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

Obama's non-closing of GITMO, kind NYT headlines, and US government irony | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Obama's non-closing of GITMO, kind NYT headlines, and US government irony | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "The excuse used to justify Obama's failure to close GITMO is incomplete and misleading. Plus: multiple other items"

Ahn Jun: self-portraits of a fearless artist | Art and design | guardian.co.uk

Ahn Jun: self-portraits of a fearless artist | Art and design | guardian.co.uk

New Iraq abuse allegations against UK troops - Europe - Al Jazeera English

New Iraq abuse allegations against UK troops - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Doctors jailed in French radiation scandal - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Doctors jailed in French radiation scandal - Europe - Al Jazeera English

US economy shrinks for first time since 2009 - Americas - Al Jazeera English

US economy shrinks for first time since 2009 - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Syria confirms Israeli airstrike - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Syria confirms Israeli airstrike - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

This is crazy.

Stanford ex-CFO Davis gets five-year prison sentence | Reuters

Stanford ex-CFO Davis gets five-year prison sentence | Reuters: (Reuters) - "James Davis, the government's top witness in convicted swindler Allen Stanford's fraud trial, was sentenced on Tuesday to five years in prison for his role in a $7 billion Ponzi scheme."
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Record radioactive cesium levels found in Fukushima rockfish - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun

Record radioactive cesium levels found in Fukushima rockfish - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun

Game over? Atari files for bankruptcy in US | Business | The Guardian

Game over? Atari files for bankruptcy in US | Business | The Guardian: "American arm of iconic games company behind Asteroids and Pong hopes to separate from loss-making French parent"

Apple expected to report first fall in profits in a decade | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Apple expected to report first fall in profits in a decade | Technology | guardian.co.uk: "Tech firm's period of 'hyper growth' begins to stall with Wall Street analysts saying demand for iPhone 5 lower than predicted"

World unemployment figures set to rise in 2013, claims UN labour agency | Business | guardian.co.uk

World unemployment figures set to rise in 2013, claims UN labour agency | Business | guardian.co.uk: "A record 202 million people could be unemployed across the world in 2013, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said"

Insight: Evidence grows for narcolepsy link to GSK swine flu shot | Reuters

Insight: Evidence grows for narcolepsy link to GSK swine flu shot | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Emelie Olsson is plagued by hallucinations and nightmares. When she wakes up, she's often paralyzed, unable to breathe properly or call for help. During the day she can barely stay awake, and often misses school or having fun with friends. She is only 14, but at times she has wondered if her life is worth living."

Anyone going to jail? (my comment)

Sky-High Radiation Found in Fukushima Fish | Common Dreams

Sky-High Radiation Found in Fukushima Fish | Common Dreams

Fukushima debris hits Hawaii — RT

Fukushima debris hits Hawaii — RT

CIA to exempt strikes on Pakistan from drones codification – reports | World news | guardian.co.uk

CIA to exempt strikes on Pakistan from drones codification – reports | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Nominated spy chief John Brennan reported to have agreed exemption over extra-judicial assassinations"

How could Obama hire Brennan a Bush employee and a failure and a torturer? Where is the international court to stop the murders? Who controls the CIA? The constitution and the justice system are under threat we must be vigilant as the ultra right is embedding into the US governmental commands and righteous, and all mighty, and which powers have no regard for human rights and life. (my comment)

Oxfam says world's rich could end poverty - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Oxfam says world's rich could end poverty - Europe - Al Jazeera English: "UK-based charity says the world's 100 richest people earned enough in 2012 to end global poverty four times over."

UN says Afghan prisoners still being tortured - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

UN says Afghan prisoners still being tortured - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

TSA to remove some body scanners from US airports over privacy concerns | World news | guardian.co.uk

TSA to remove some body scanners from US airports over privacy concerns | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Transportation body to do away machines that showed travellers naked after manufacturer fails to fix privacy issues"

And which emit radiation? (my comment)

Oil and the Delta Bush | Photographers Blog

Oil and the Delta Bush | Photographers Blog

Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa? | Joanna Blythman | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa? | Joanna Blythman | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Ethical consumers should be aware poor Bolivians can no longer afford their staple grain, due to western demand raising prices"

Analysis: Facing drought, U.S. farmers return to crop rotation | Reuters

Analysis: Facing drought, U.S. farmers return to crop rotation | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Farmers in top U.S. grain states are planning to rotate to other crops after repeated plantings of corn on the same fields, combined with a devastating drought in 2012, badly hurt yields."

The over spraying of  transgenic corn must have deleterious effects on the soil chemistry with dire consequences on crop production. Also, Monsanto corn is maybe a lot less productive productive and may require more water. By adding genes into the corn DNA, other genes maybe be turned off which permit the corn to survive better.  We need studies, but such studies are not funded. And in the mid time the consumer is eating over sprayed pesticide and herbicide resistant corn, without a hint of knowledge on the possible effect on the human health. And water wells start showing high levels of pesticides and insecticides like it has just been reported in Raleigh North Carolina.

Crop rotation is a great idea, we just hope that the over spraying on transgenic crops - which include Soybean, Maize, Cotton, Canola, Squash, Papaya, Alfalfa, Sugarbeet in the US see list in Wikipedia  - will not prevent other crops to grow well.

People it is time to choose survival instead of DOW Chemicals, Dupont or Monsanto products. Stop buying the round-ups, the weed and insect killers, the grass growers ... (MY comment)

The Old Print Shop

The Old Print Shop

This gallery has fantastic prints of Antonio Frasconi and you can enlarge to appreciate them more. Take the time to really look at them.

Antonio Frasconi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antonio Frasconi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antonio Frasconi recently passed away January 8th.  We need to pay tribute.

Dr Sarmast's Music School - Witness - Al Jazeera English

Dr Sarmast's Music School - Witness - Al Jazeera English

Monument causes Serb-Albanian tensions - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Monument causes Serb-Albanian tensions - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Saudi Arabia to grant $100m to Palestinians - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Saudi Arabia to grant $100m to Palestinians - Middle East - Al Jazeera English: "The Palestinian government is struggling to cover its expenditures since Israel announced it would withhold tax revenue."

Algeria hostage seige comes to deadly end - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Algeria hostage seige comes to deadly end - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Pussy Riot member denied appeal | Music | guardian.co.uk

Pussy Riot member denied appeal | Music | guardian.co.uk: "Maria Alyokhina had asked to defer her sentence to care for her five-year-old son, but court rules against her"

Washington police accused of 'disturbing' failures to investigate rape | World news | guardian.co.uk

Washington police accused of 'disturbing' failures to investigate rape | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Human Rights Watch to publish report that shows some victims experience fresh trauma from police neglect in rape cases"

Bradley Manning denied chance to make whistleblower defence | World news | guardian.co.uk

Bradley Manning denied chance to make whistleblower defence | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Judge rules that Manning will not be allowed to present evidence about his motives for the leak – a key plank of his defence"

The military wants to make an example of Manning to intimidate everyone who may wish to do the same. (My comment)

Noam Chomsky: The responsibility of privilege - Talk to Al Jazeera - Al Jazeera English

Noam Chomsky: The responsibility of privilege - Talk to Al Jazeera - Al Jazeera English

Veolia Draws Upon Fukushima to Move Into Nuclear Dismantling - Bloomberg

Veolia Draws Upon Fukushima to Move Into Nuclear Dismantling - Bloomberg

South Africa: let's talk about race | World news | guardian.co.uk

South Africa: let's talk about race | World news | guardian.co.uk: "A fierce debate is raging after one woman wrote an open letter to her fellow white South Africans – and many took offence"

US east-coast cities are 'sitting ducks' for storms, says top Obama scientist | Environment | guardian.co.uk

US east-coast cities are 'sitting ducks' for storms, says top Obama scientist | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Marcia McNutt, who resigned as director of the US Geological Survey, says hurricane Sandy has left communities exposed"

US Postal Service faces ruin without rescue from Congress, watchdog warns | Business | guardian.co.uk

US Postal Service faces ruin without rescue from Congress, watchdog warns | Business | guardian.co.uk: "Inspector general David Williams says cash-strapped service, saddled with debt and low revenues, is in 'very serious trouble'"

Dave Finucane QT at The Sharp Nine Gallery - YouTube

Dave Finucane QT at The Sharp Nine Gallery - YouTube:

Israeli military kills Palestinian boy | World news | guardian.co.uk

Israeli military kills Palestinian boy | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Seventeen-year-old Samir Awad shot dead near West Bank separation barrier"

-"Enough is enough, it is time to end the occupation, stop the building of illegal settlements and end Israel state of apartheid.  It is time to end the blockade of building material and other necessities. It is time to get indignant.  It is time for the Palestinians to become again a sovereign people.

And it is time for the West to stop the illegal wars which terrorize populations. Since 2000 the human toll in the middle east is very high check the data below:
.

http://www.iraqbodycount.org;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jan/03/iraq-body-count-report-data; 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/aug/10/afghanistan-civilian-casualties-statistics
and since 2000 casualties in Israel and Palestine Check the UN report

It is time to move to stop martyrizing peoples; we need to unify and develop solutions for the survival of the human race instead." (My comment)

RBS braced for up to $800 million Libor fines: sources | Reuters

RBS braced for up to $800 million Libor fines: sources | Reuters: (Reuters) -" Royal Bank of Scotland is braced for fines of between 400 million pounds and 500 million pounds ($803 million) for its role in an interest rate rigging scandal, sources familiar with the matter said."

Apple shares dip below $500 following reports it cut iPhone 5 screen orders | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Apple shares dip below $500 following reports it cut iPhone 5 screen orders | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Facebook UK loses 600,000 users in December | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Facebook UK loses 600,000 users in December | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Study finds widespread 'criminalisation of pregnancy' in US institutions | World news | guardian.co.uk

Study finds widespread 'criminalisation of pregnancy' in US institutions | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Study cites misinterpretation of Roe v Wade in array of cases where women were denied rights based on pregnancy status"

The bombing of Mali highlights all the lessons of western intervention | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

The bombing of Mali highlights all the lessons of western intervention | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "The west African nation becomes the eighth country in the last four years alone where Muslims are killed by the west"

Finally a journalist who tells it as it is and is not afraid of telling the truth and questioning the west's sense of ethics and morality. (My comments)

Anonymous attacks MIT websites after death of internet activist Aaron Swartz | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Anonymous attacks MIT websites after death of internet activist Aaron Swartz | Technology | guardian.co.uk: "Apologising for 'temporary use' of institution's sites, hacker collective accuses US government of overzealous prosecution"

Fake mission to Mars leaves astronauts spaced out | Science | The Guardian

Fake mission to Mars leaves astronauts spaced out | Science | The Guardian: "Trip to Mars in pretend spaceship on Moscow industrial estate affects sleep, activity levels and motivation of six-man crew"

US drone attacks 'counter-productive', former Obama security adviser claims | World news | The Guardian

US drone attacks 'counter-productive', former Obama security adviser claims | World news | The Guardian: "US reliance on drones to target terrorists undermines rule of law, is ineffective and has strategic drawbacks, argues Michael Boyle"

U.S. banks to pay $8.5 billion to end foreclosure reviews | Reuters

U.S. banks to pay $8.5 billion to end foreclosure reviews | Reuters: (Reuters) - "A group of 10 mortgage servicers agreed on Monday to pay a total of $8.5 billion to end a U.S. government-mandated case-by-case review of housing crisis foreclosures in an acknowledgement the program had proven too cumbersome and expensive."

Obama picks Hagel for defense, Brennan for CIA | Reuters

Obama picks Hagel for defense, Brennan for CIA | Reuters: (Reuters) - "President Barack Obama on Monday nominated former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to head the CIA, potentially setting up a Senate confirmation battle on two fronts and establishing a tough tone to start his second term."

Really!

BofA reaches $11.6 billion settlement with Fannie Mae | Reuters

BofA reaches $11.6 billion settlement with Fannie Mae | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Bank of America Corp on Monday entered an $11.6 billion settlement to end Fannie Mae's claims that the bank improperly sold it mortgages that later soured, and to resolve problems with foreclosures, the companies said."

France's censorship demands to Twitter are more dangerous than 'hate speech' | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

France's censorship demands to Twitter are more dangerous than 'hate speech' | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Few ideas have done as much damage throughout history as empowering the government to criminalize opinions it dislikes"

BBC News - Efforts to save grounded Shell Arctic rig postponed

BBC News - Efforts to save grounded Shell Arctic rig postponed: "Attempts to rescue a Shell drill rig grounded off the Alaskan coast have been delayed because of high seas and strong winds."

BBC News - Gerard Depardieu 'granted Russian citizenship'

BBC News - Gerard Depardieu 'granted Russian citizenship': "French actor Gerard Depardieu has obtained Russian citizenship, according to a brief statement posted on the Kremlin website."

BBC News - Concord, Massachusetts bans sale of small water bottles

BBC News - Concord, Massachusetts bans sale of small water bottles: "The US town of Concord in Massachusetts has banned the sale of bottled water in units smaller than one litre."

BBC News - German medicine rocked by Leipzig organ donor scandal

BBC News - German medicine rocked by Leipzig organ donor scandal: "Prosecutors are investigating an organ donor scandal in the east German city of Leipzig in which doctors allegedly manipulated an organ waiting list."

Maybe we should investigate if Cheney was also placed ahead of the heart list. (My comment)

Higgs boson was just a start for Cern's atom smasher – other mysteries await | Science | The Guardian

Higgs boson was just a start for Cern's atom smasher – other mysteries await | Science | The Guardian: "The Large Hadron Collider will shut down for an overhaul in preparation for exploring questions of dark matter, extra dimensions and other universes"

Goldman execs cash in $26.8 million in stock on New Year's Eve | Reuters

Goldman execs cash in $26.8 million in stock on New Year's Eve | Reuters: (Reuters) - "Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and departing Chief Financial Officer David Viniar both exercised restricted stock units on New Year's Eve that delivered them $4.2 million in cash apiece."

Oil ship runs aground in Alaska | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Oil ship runs aground in Alaska | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Drill ship, the Kulluk, carrying about 155,000 gallons of fuel, drifted in stormy weather before being driven on to rocks"

North Korean leader seeks end to confrontation with South | Reuters

North Korean leader seeks end to confrontation with South | Reuters: (Reuters) - "North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for an end to confrontation between the two Koreas, technically still at war in the absence of a peace treaty to end their 1950-53 conflict, in a surprise New Year speech broadcast on state media."