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A blog interested in the truth, however uncomfortable it might be.  

Insight: France's love affair with nuclear cools | Reuters

Insight: France's love affair with nuclear cools | Reuters: (Reuters) - "For decades, the elite engineers turned out by Paris's grand Corps des Mines academy were faithful followers of the pro-atomic creed that transformed their country into the most nuclear-reliant nation in the world."

U.N. set for implicit recognition of Palestinian state, despite U.S., Israel threats | Reuters

U.N. set for implicit recognition of Palestinian state, despite U.S., Israel threats | Reuters: (Reuters) - "The U.N. General Assembly is set to implicitly recognize a sovereign state of Palestine on Thursday despite threats by the United States and Israel to punish the Palestinian Authority by withholding much-needed funds for the West Bank government."

Times Bureau Chief in Jerusalem will now have her Facebook entries edited | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Times Bureau Chief in Jerusalem will now have her Facebook entries edited | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "The new measure slams shut an important window into a journalist's assumptions, and shows how constricted Israel discussion still is"

In Israel, some rebel against circumcision | Reuters

In Israel, some rebel against circumcision | Reuters

SAC Capital threatened with fraud charges: sources | Reuters

SAC Capital threatened with fraud charges: sources | Reuters: (Reuters) - "The U.S. government is threatening to file civil securities fraud charges against SAC Capital Advisors and is tightening the regulatory screws around Steven A. Cohen, the $14 billion hedge fund's founder and one of the industry's most famous traders."

Today's Close-up -- WANTED: Workers for Fukushima Decommission - YouTube

Today's Close-up -- WANTED: Workers for Fukushima Decommission - YouTube:

Ukraine's Chernobyl site reaches milestone - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Ukraine's Chernobyl site reaches milestone - Europe - Al Jazeera English: "Colossal arch-shaped structure created to shelter exploded reactor raised to its full height by decontamination workers."

Arafat's widow speaks out after exhumation - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Arafat's widow speaks out after exhumation - Middle East - Al Jazeera English: "The widow of the late Palestinian leader says she was never offered an autopsy on her husband's corpse."

US coastal cities in danger as sea levels rise faster than expected, study warns | Environment | guardian.co.uk

US coastal cities in danger as sea levels rise faster than expected, study warns | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Satellite measurements show flooding from storms like Sandy will put low-lying population centres at risk sooner than projected"

Bradley Manning: marine commander warned detention was inappropriate | World news | guardian.co.uk

Bradley Manning: marine commander warned detention was inappropriate | World news | guardian.co.uk: "WikiLeaks suspect held at Quantico for nine months despite recommendation of 90 days maximum, pre-trial hearing told"

Wall Street adds to losses after housing data | Reuters

Wall Street adds to losses after housing data | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Stocks extended losses on Wednesday after data showed new single-family home sales fell slightly in October and the government revised sharply lower its estimate for the prior month's sales, denting optimism over one of the brighter sectors of the economy."

U.S. bans BP from new government contracts after oil spill deal | Reuters

U.S. bans BP from new government contracts after oil spill deal | Reuters: (Reuters) - "The U.S. government temporarily banned BP Plc from federal contracts on Wednesday over its "lack of business integrity" in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, a move that the British company had said could force it to rethink its entire U.S. operations."

Obama 'drone-warfare rulebook' condemned by human rights groups | World news | guardian.co.uk

Obama 'drone-warfare rulebook' condemned by human rights groups | World news | guardian.co.uk: "New York Times reports administration attempting to set out circumstances in which targeted assassination is justified"

Thelonious Monk - Live in '66, Full Concert - YouTube

Thelonious Monk - Live in '66, Full Concert - YouTube:

Global economic woes prompt soul-searching on capitalism | Business | guardian.co.uk

Global economic woes prompt soul-searching on capitalism | Business | guardian.co.uk: "While policymakers insist vigorous recovery will arrive, there is concern that deep structural problems are stalling a revival"

Egypt's top judges condemn Mohamed Morsi power grab | World news | guardian.co.uk

Egypt's top judges condemn Mohamed Morsi power grab | World news | guardian.co.uk

Truly hairy mid-life crises: chimps and orangs get them too | Reuters

Truly hairy mid-life crises: chimps and orangs get them too | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Forty- and 50-somethings in the throes of a mid-life crisis should probably stop blaming a troubled marriage, their kid's college costs, or technology that makes them feel about as modern as papyrus compared to their younger colleagues."

Professor finds profiling in ads for personal data website | Reuters

Professor finds profiling in ads for personal data website | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Dr. Latisha Smith, an expert in decompression sicknesses afflicting deep sea divers, has cleared criminal background checks throughout her medical career. Yet someone searching the Web for the Washington State physician might well come across an Internet ad suggesting she may have an arrest record."

Dark matter: the underground lab searching for wimps | Science | The Observer

Dark matter: the underground lab searching for wimps | Science | The Observer: "At Gran Sasso National Laboratory, nearly a mile beneath an Italian mountain range, physicists are trying to isolate the particles they believe hold the universe together"

JP Morgan Chase and Credit Suisse pay $416.9m in penalties over mortgages | Business | guardian.co.uk

JP Morgan Chase and Credit Suisse pay $416.9m in penalties over mortgages | Business | guardian.co.uk: "Fines and compensation are related to mortgage bond losses regarded as the 'ground zero' of the global financial crisis"

Keystone XL activists to press Obama again to block oil pipeline | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Keystone XL activists to press Obama again to block oil pipeline | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Environmental groups to hold rally at White House on Sunday after president promised to make climate change a priority"

Body found from Black Elk oil rig explosion | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Body found from Black Elk oil rig explosion | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Divers retrieve remains of one of two missing workers from Gulf of Mexico platform, while four burnt men fight for lives"

Israeli air strike wounds journalists in Gaza | Video | Reuters.com

Israeli air strike wounds journalists in Gaza | Video | Reuters.com

Israeli air strike kills 11 civilians in Gaza: Hamas | Reuters

Israeli air strike kills 11 civilians in Gaza: Hamas | Reuters: (Reuters) - "At least 11 Palestinian civilians, including four children, were killed on Sunday in what Hamas said was an Israeli air strike on a Gaza apartment building, the highest death toll in a single incident in five days of fighting."

Egypt's Mursi says Israel attacks on Gaza unacceptable | Reuters

Egypt's Mursi says Israel attacks on Gaza unacceptable | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi condemned Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip as unacceptable on Thursday, in his harshest public criticism of Egypt's neighbor since taking office in June."

Exxon shuts pipeline after oil leak offshore Nigeria | Reuters

Exxon shuts pipeline after oil leak offshore Nigeria | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Exxon (XOM.N) has shut a pipeline off the coast of Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state after an oil leak started by an unknown cause, the company's local unit said on Saturday."

Goldman in settlement talks with U.S. over trading loss | Reuters

Goldman in settlement talks with U.S. over trading loss | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Goldman Sachs Group Inc is in settlement talks with the U.S. government over an $8.3 billion position that one of the investment bank's traders had concealed five years ago, according to a published report."

Children behind bars: US young offenders – interactive | World news | The Guardian

Children behind bars: US young offenders – interactive | World news | The Guardian: "Photographer Richard Ross captures the lives of juveniles held inside American jails.'

US military warned to prepare for consequences of climate change | World news | guardian.co.uk

US military warned to prepare for consequences of climate change | World news | guardian.co.uk: "National Academy of Sciences recommends crash course for analysts on preparing for rise in sea level and food shortages"

Obama insists on tax hike for rich as part of fiscal deal | Reuters

Obama insists on tax hike for rich as part of fiscal deal | Reuters: (Reuters) - "President Barack Obama said on Friday he was prepared to compromise with Republicans to avert a looming U.S. fiscal calamity, but insisted a tax increase for the rich must be part of any bargain."

Citigroup to pay former executives $15.5 million each | Reuters

Citigroup to pay former executives $15.5 million each | Reuters

I would also have a smirk on my face. (my comment)

China's economy to overtake US in next four years, says OECD | Business | guardian.co.uk

China's economy to overtake US in next four years, says OECD | Business | guardian.co.uk: "China's economy will be biggest in world by end of 2016, says leading international thinktank"

Iran says repelled unidentified plane from its airspace | Reuters

Iran says repelled unidentified plane from its airspace | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Iran repelled an unidentified aircraft violating its airspace, it said on Friday, after Washington reported a U.S. surveillance drone was shot at by Iranian warplanes last week."

Sending surveillance drones in or near Iran can only be a provocation. iran has complied with the to halt further enrichment of uranium but maybe the war mongers want to start some new conflict in the region.

Amnesty denounces torture in Californian prisons

http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/california_solitary_confinement_report_final.pdf


Cruel Isolation: Amnesty International's Concerns about Conditions in Arizona Maximum Security Prisons | Amnesty International USA

Cruel Isolation: Amnesty International's Concerns about Conditions in Arizona Maximum Security Prisons | Amnesty International USA: "New Amnesty report finds conditions in Arizona's maximum security prisons fall below international standards for humane treatment"

Britain's double standard on extradition to US prison abuse | Sadhbh Walshe | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Britain's double standard on extradition to US prison abuse | Sadhbh Walshe | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "The UK home secretary condemned US detention when refusing to extradite Gary McKinnon – yet willingly deported five Muslims"

Sandy might send more than 250,000 cars to scrap heap | Reuters

Sandy might send more than 250,000 cars to scrap heap | Reuters "(Reuters) - Superstorm Sandy may consign as many as a quarter of a million new and used cars and trucks to the scrap heap, a loss that could eventually lead to a spike in new auto sales, automakers and dealers said."

Israeli policy splits Palestinian families - Features - Al Jazeera English

Israeli policy splits Palestinian families - Features - Al Jazeera English

Is a nuclear-free Middle East possible? - Inside Story - Al Jazeera English

Is a nuclear-free Middle East possible? - Inside Story - Al Jazeera English

Israel to counter Palestinian attempt at UN - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Israel to counter Palestinian attempt at UN - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

US states back gay marriage and marijuana - Americas - Al Jazeera English

US states back gay marriage and marijuana - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Oklahoma executes Garry Thomas Allen despite claims of insanity | World news | guardian.co.uk

Oklahoma executes Garry Thomas Allen despite claims of insanity | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Execution carried out for 1986 murder despite 56-year-old appearing confused and rambling about presidential election"

French government approves introduction of same-sex marriage | Society | guardian.co.uk

French government approves introduction of same-sex marriage | Society | guardian.co.uk: "Draft law on gay marriage and adoption to go before parliament amid protests and concerns plans do not go far enough"

New York, New Jersey order evacuations ahead of new storm | Reuters

New York, New Jersey order evacuations ahead of new storm | Reuters: (Reuters) - "New York and New Jersey ordered the evacuation of nursing homes and low-lying coastal areas already devastated by deadly Superstorm Sandy as a smaller but still powerful Nor'easter approached from the Atlantic Ocean."

Iran suspends uranium enrichment | World news | guardian.co.uk

Iran suspends uranium enrichment | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Move intended as gesture of goodwill before negotiations with US over nuclear programme begin next week"

Insight: Flooded New York plans to tame the sea, but who pays? | Reuters

Insight: Flooded New York plans to tame the sea, but who pays? | Reuters: (Reuters) - "When Jeroen Aerts, a Dutchman tasked with crafting a plan to defend New York City from flooding, first looked at its coastline seven years ago, he was taken aback by how vulnerable it was."

Soldiers win $85m compensation from Iraq war contractor | World news | guardian.co.uk

Soldiers win $85m compensation from Iraq war contractor | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Kellogg Brown and Root, formerly part of Halliburton, exposed water plant guards to dangerous carcinogen, court finds"

"Like all hexavalent chromium compounds, sodium dichromate is considered hazardous. It is also a known carcinogen." Wikipedia

Event though the military knew soldiers would be exposed to sodium dichromate the big wigs, the ones who rarely are on the terrain, chose to ignore it and exposed their men and women. Diabolic (my comment)

Protecting nuclear plants from nature’s worst - The Washington Post

Protecting nuclear plants from nature’s worst - The Washington Post

Pumpkin carvings for Halloween - in pictures | Life and style | guardian.co.uk

Pumpkin carvings for Halloween - in pictures | Life and style | guardian.co.uk

The battle against Big Energy's rush to ruin our planet | Daryl Hannah | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

The battle against Big Energy's rush to ruin our planet | Daryl Hannah | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "The energy industry tries to sell us 'ethical oil', 'clean coal' and 'natural gas', but this extreme weather is mobilising people to act"

US warns Israel off pre-emptive strike on Iran | World news | guardian.co.uk

US warns Israel off pre-emptive strike on Iran | World news | guardian.co.uk

Bahrain must lift ban on all protests: Amnesty | Reuters

Bahrain must lift ban on all protests: Amnesty | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Bahrain must lift its total ban on opposition protests, which violates the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, rights group Amnesty International said on Wednesday."