652: After Spin Class

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 02:28

1. Chief of StateThis role requires a president to be an inspiring example for the American people. In some nations, the chief of state is a king or a queen who wears a crown on special occasions, celebrates national holidays, and stands for the highest values and ideals of the country. As the American Chief of State, the president is a living symbol of the nation. It is considered a great honor for any citizen to shake the president's hand.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Awarding medals to the winners of college scholarshipsCongratulating astronauts on their journey into spaceGreeting visitors to the White HouseMaking a patriotic speech on the Fourth of July 2. Chief ExecutiveThe president is the "boss" for millions of government workers in the Executive Branch. He decides how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and chooses officials and advisers to help run the Executive Branch.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Appointing someone to serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)Holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss government businessReading reports about problems of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 3. Chief DiplomatThe president decides what American diplomats and ambassadors shall say to foreign governments. With the help of advisers, the president makes the foreign policy of the United States.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Traveling to London to meet with British leadersEntertaining Japanese diplomats in the White HouseWriting a message or a letter to the leaders of the Soviet Union 4. Commander-In-ChiefThe president is in charge of the U.S. armed forces: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The president decides where troops shall be stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how weapons shall be used. All military generals and admirals take their orders from the President.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Inspecting a Navy yardDeciding, in wartime, whether to bomb foreign citiesCalling out troops to stop a riot 5. Chief LegislatorOnly Congress has the actual power to make laws, but the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress in its lawmaking. Presidents may urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not favor.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Inviting members of Congress to lunch in the White HouseSigning a bill of CongressMaking a speech in Congress 6. Chief of PartyIn this role, the president helps members of his political party get elected or appointed to office. The president campaigns for those members who have supported his policies. At the end of a term the president may campaign for reelection.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Choosing leading party members to serve in the CabinetTraveling to California to speak at a rally for a party nominee to the U.S. Senate 7. Chief Guardian of the EconomyIn this role, the president is concerned with such things as unemployment, high prices, taxes, business profits, and the general prosperity of the country. The president does not control the economy, but is expected to help it run smoothly.

Examples of Responsibilities:

Meeting with economic advisers to discuss ways to reduce unemploymentMeeting with business and labor leaders to discuss their needs and problems

Adapted from The Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court, Scholastic Inc., 1989.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:27

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 10, 2014

PATRIOT DAY AND NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE, 2014 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION

America will never forget the September tragedy that shook our Nation's core 13 years ago. On a day that began like so many others, a clear blue sky was pierced by billowing black smoke as a wave of grief crashed over us. But in one of our darkest moments, we summoned strength and courage, and out of horrible devastation emerged the best of our humanity. On this solemn anniversary, we pause in remembrance, in reflection, and once again in unity. On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men, women, and children -- friends and neighbors, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters -- were taken from us with a heartbreaking swiftness and cruelty. As we come together once more to mourn their loss, we also recall how the worst terrorist attack in our history brought out the true character of the American people. Courageous firefighters rushed into an inferno, brave rescue workers charged up stairs, and coworkers carried others to safety. Americans in distant cities and local towns united in common purpose, demonstrating the spirit of our Nation; people drove across the country to volunteer, donors lined up to give blood, and organizations collected food and clothing. And in our Nation's hour of need, millions of young Americans raised in a time of peace volunteered to don the uniforms of our country's military and defend our values around the world. As we remember all those we lost on that day and the Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the wars that followed, we must strive to carry forward their legacy. On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, we take up their unfinished work and pay tribute to their lives with service and charity. Through these acts and quiet gestures, we can honor their memory and reclaim our sense of togetherness. I encourage all Americans to visit www.Serve.gov or www.Servir.gov to learn more about service opportunities across our country. In the face of great terror, some turned to God and many found comfort in family and friends -- but all Americans came together as one people united not only in our grief, but also in our determination to stand with one another and support the country we love. Today and all days, we remember the patriots who endure in the hearts of our Nation and their families who have known the awful depths of loss. In their spirit, let us resolve to move forward together and rededicate ourselves to the ideals that define our Union as we work to strengthen our communities and better our world. By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day," and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized "National Day of Service and Remembrance." NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of theUnited States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2014, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and its Territories and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:41

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 11, 2014

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

On September 10, 2014, approximately 20 U.S. Armed Forces personnel deployed to the Central African Republic to support the resumption of the activities of the U.S. Embassy in Bangui.

This force was deployed along with U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security personnel for the purpose of protecting U.S. Embassy personnel and property. This force is expected to remain in the Central African Republic until it is replaced by an augmented U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment and additional U.S. Department of State civilian security personnel as the security situation allows.

This action has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

ALWAYS SEND YOUR LINKS! Don't think other will have done it.

Long-Time Boner, Soon to be Donor.

Thanks to all of your hilarious talk about Tourette's and superpowers, I've come to begin suspecting I had TS. Come to find out, after bringing it up with my parents, I was told in fact I do have a "mild case" of Tourette's. So, in a way, I can consider your talk of Tourette's as yet another service of the Curry/Dvorak Consulting Group. Now that I know that yes, I am a Tourette's "Sufferer" as you once put it, I have so far acknowledged every one of your superpowers from remembering long strings of numbers, being able to catch things that fall off things rather easily (even though I have no depth perception!), among others that I can't remember right now.

My tics range from extending my elbows to crack it, also the rolling of the ankle while walking (which I thought was HILARIOUS when you mentioned it on the air), along with individual shoulder shrugs and most recently a neck craning from side-to-side until it cracks. When I'm alone I look like a nutjob but little do they know about my data crunching/object catching superpowers...I keep it relatively under control but as soon as I'm alone it all comes out in a string of spasms and tics that probably looks ridiculous.

Anyways, I will be donating very soon by end of year when I have some extra cash from my tax return. I've been listening for a few years now, and I hit everyone in the mouth that I can. Thanks for the Tourette's Talks (Similar to Ted Talks?), and I hope you can enter 1 additional Anonymous person into the Honorary Tourette's Club so you can have a fifth member! Thanks!

PS I'm also reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman. Great book, will be passing it along to those that I hit in the mouth to borrow.

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:26

Pope Francis said on Saturday the spate of conflicts around the globe today were effectively a "piecemeal" Third World War, condemning the arms trade and "plotters of terrorism" sowing death and destruction.

"Humanity needs to weep and this is the time to weep," Francis said in the homily of a Mass during a visit to Italy's largest war memorial, a large, Fascist-era monument where more than 100,000 soldiers who died in World War One are buried.

The pope began his brief visit to northern Italy by first praying in a nearby, separate cemetery for some 15,000 soldiers from five nations of the Austro-Hungarian empire which were on the losing side of the Great War that broke out 100 years ago.

Read MoreUkraine PM: Putin trying to destroy country

"War is madness," he said in his homily before the massive, sloping granite memorial, made of 22 steps on the side of hill with three crosses at the top.

"Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction," he said.

"Humanity needs to weep and this is the time to weep"-Pope Francis

In the past few months, Francis has made repeated appeals for an end to conflicts in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Gaza and parts of Africa.

"War is irrational; its only plan is to bring destruction: it seeks to grow by destroying," he said. "Greed, intolerance, the lust for power. These motives underlie the decision to go to war and they are too often justified by an ideology ...," he said.

Read MoreObama calls for 'systematic' campaign against ISIS

Last month the pope, who has often condemned the concept of war in God's name, said it would be legitimate for the international community to use force to stop "unjust aggression" by Islamic State militants who have killed or displaced thousands of people in Iraq and Syria, many of them Christians.

In his homily, read at a somber service to thousands of people braving the rain and which included the hauntingly funereal sound of a solitary bugle, Francis condemned "plotters of terrorism" but did not elaborate.

You'll never guess the "interesting" affiliations that David Haines has..

According to the BBC, In April 2011, Mr Haines joined another charity, Handicap International, and became the head of its mission in war-torn Libya.

In 2013, the Handicap International Federation operated a $141 million budget to implement and manage 315 programs in 59 countries. Handicap International’s generous U.S. donors, institutional partners and foundations helped to fuel this budget. In 2013, our partners included:

United States Agency for International Development

United States Department of State

Also according to the BBC, after leaving Handicap International, Haines worked for Nonviolent Peaceforce, "an organization seeking to facilitate peace initiatives in dangerous environments."

NP could not function without the support of governments and other bilateral partners. Grants from government agencies and other organizations such as Belgium, the European Commission, UNICEF, UNDP, Australia, Norway, UNHCR and Cordaid (Netherlands) total more than 5.6 million € in 2012.

80% of Nonviolent Peaceforce's funding is from governments and agencies.

All their financials can be found here: http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/about/funding

-Brian

The most recent organization Haines worked for is ACTED. According to the BBC, Mr Haines was working for the French aid agency when he was kidnapped in Syria in March 2013. Haines had only been working for ACTED for 10 days before he was "kidnapped".

Haines joined ACTED to help co-ordinate the delivery of clean water, food and tents, in order to ease the growing humanitarian crisis in refugee camps near Atmeh, a town in northern Idlib province, near the Syrian border with Turkey.

What is the mission of ACTED:

ACTED’s vocation is to support vulnerable populations affected by wars, natural disasters and/or economic and social crises, and to accompany them in building a better future; thus contributing to the Millennium Development Goals

The programs implemented by ACTED (more than 390 per year), in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, aim at addressing the needs of populations affected by wars, natural disasters and/or economic and social crises.

ACTED’s vision is to establish a link between emergency, rehabilitation and development.

Who Funds ACTED?

- Multilateral Partners:

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Asian Development Bank

MINUSTAH

UNDEF - United Nations Democracy Fund

ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations

World Bank

- Private Partners:

Veolia

ProNatura International (PNI)

Open Society Foundations (OSF) - SOROS

DanChurchAid

Communauté des Communes du Pays de Quimperlé

CESVI

After understanding all of Haines' connections, I'm speechless....

-Brian

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:48

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

September 13, 2014

The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of UK citizen David Haines by the terrorist group ISIL. Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom. The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve. We will work with the United Kingdom and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 02:53

Paris, 5 September 2014 '' ACTED is deeply shocked by the images broadcasted earlier this week. The threats on David Haines' life are intolerable.

David has been working as a humanitarian since 1999, helping victims of conflict in the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East. When he was taken hostage in March 2013, David was in Syria as part of ACTED's humanitarian effort in support of tens of thousands of people affected by the crisis.

We have been mobilized from day one with David's family. More than ever, we are pursuing our efforts, and our thoughts are with David and his family.

ACTED strongly condemns the violence and threats against David. A man's life should never be threatened on account of his humanitarian commitment.

Once again, we call upon the immediate release of David.

www.acted.org

Download the press release here

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 17:14

Washington, D.C. '' U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today called for an immediate suspension of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for countries that have large numbers of Islamic extremists actively fighting alongside groups such as ISIL in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Congresswoman Gabbard, an Army National Guard captain who has served two tours of duty in the Middle East, said, ''As things presently stand, Islamic extremists holding British, German, French or other European passports can simply get on a plane and fly to America without a visa. The safety and security of Americans should be of the highest priority, and this Visa Waiver Program puts the American people in great danger.

''I urge the Administration to immediately suspend the Visa Waiver Program for countries such as Great Britain, Germany, and France, which have thousands of citizens fighting alongside Islamic extremist groups like ISIL, in the Middle East or around the world. By suspending the Visa Waiver Program, all visitors from these countries will have to go through a visa application process before they are allowed to step on U.S. soil. Simultaneously, I will work with my colleagues to take action in Congress to address this issue and plug this gaping hole in our national security.''

The VWP, administered by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, has 38 countries participating. The program enables eligible citizens or nationals of those countries to travel to the United States and stay for up to 90 days without first obtaining a visa.

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 18:03

Media Contact

COLLINS PUSHES FOR EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OF VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

Collins: ''Terrorism will not stop the free flow of people and commerce, but it will not exploit that freedom either.''

WASHINGTON [Sept 10] '' Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) today introduced legislation allowing for an emergency short-term suspension in the U.S. State Department's Visa Waiver Program.

The program, meant to expedite foreign travel for residents of United States and thirty-eight designated countries, could be utilized by Islamic State terrorists who posses western passports for easier entry into the United States.

''Terrorism will not stop the free flow of people and commerce, but it will not exploit that freedom either,'' Congressman Collins explained. ''The pressure is on for our intelligence community to track down Islamic State jihadists who claim nationalities from literally all over the world, including our staunchest allies. By restoring a layer of scrutiny to entrants from everywhere, the chances are greater for tracking and stopping terrorism before it happens.''

The vulnerabilities created by the Visa Waiver Program have been exploited by terrorists before. September 11th conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui , the ''shoebomber'' Richard Reid, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing conspirator Ahmed Ajaj all either entered or attempted to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program as citizens of western countries.

The Visa Waiver Program Suspension Act suspends the program for 180 days, requiring a review and report to Congress on the national security risks posed by the program. Among its requirements, this report must include the number of terrorists admitted into the United States, the current visa overstay rate for any country participating in the Visa Waiver Program, the estimated impact on the travel industry, and a report on the cost and feasibility of a biometric entry-exit control system.

# # #

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:09

US Code Title 10

CHAPTER 2 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE§ 119. Special access programs: congressional oversightCHAPTER 3 - GENERAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS§ 124. Detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs: Department of Defense to be lead agency.§ 128. Physical protection of special nuclear material: limitation on dissemination of unclassified information.§ 130. Authority to withhold from public disclosure certain technical dataCHAPTER 4 - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE§ 136. Assistant Secretaries of Defense§ 140a [renumbered § 422]§ 140b [renumbered § 422]CHAPTER 6 - COMBATANT COMMANDS§ 167. Unified combatant command for special operations forcesCHAPTER 8 - DEFENSE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FIELD ACTIVITIESSUBCHAPTER I§ 191. Secretary of Defense: authority to provide for common performance of supply or service activities§ 192. Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities: oversight by the Secretary of Defense§ 193. Combat support agencies: oversight§ 194. Limitations on personnelSUBCHAPTER II§ 201. Consultation regarding appointment of certain intelligence officials§ 202. Unauthorized use of Defense Intelligence Agency name, initials, or sealCHAPTER 18 - MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES§ 371. Use of information collected during military operations§ 380. Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials.CHAPTER 21 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE MATTERSSUBCHAPTER I§ 421. Funds for foreign cryptologic support§ 422. Counterintelligence official reception and representation expenses§ 423. Authority to use proceeds from counterintelligence operations of the military departments§ 424. Disclosure of organizational and personnel information: exemption for Defense Intelligence AgencySUBCHAPTER II§ 431. Authority to engage in commercial activities as security for intelligence collection activities§ 432. Use, disposition, and auditing of funds§ 433. Relationship with other Federal laws§ 434. Funds for foreign cryptologic support§ 435. Limitations§ 436. Regulations§ 437. Congressional oversightCHAPTER 47 - UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICESUBCHAPTER XCHAPTER 55 - MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE§ 1089. Defense of certain suits arising out of medical malpracticeCHAPTER 75 - DEATH BENEFITS§ 1489. Death gratuity: members and employees dying outside the United States while assigned to intelligence dutiesCHAPTER 81 - CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES§ 1590. Management of civilian intelligence personnel of the military departments§ 1593. Uniform allowance: civilian employees§ 1596. Foreign language proficiency: special payCHAPTER 83 - DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY CIVILIAN PERSONNEL§ 1601. Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service§ 1602. Defense Intelligence Agency merit pay system§ 1603. Limit on pay§ 1604. Civilian personnel management§ 1605. Benefits for certain employees of the Defense Intelligence Agency§ 1606. Uniform allowance: civilian employees§ 1607. Renumbered § 424§ 1608. Financial assistance to certain employees in acquisition of critical skillsCHAPTER 108 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCHOOLS§ 2161. Defense Intelligence School: master of science of strategic intelligenceCHAPTER 137 - PROCUREMENT GENERALLY§ 2315. Law inapplicable to the procurement of automatic data processing equipment and services for certain defense purposesCHAPTER 141 - MISCELLANEOUS PROCUREMENT PROVISIONS§ 2410i. Prohibition on contracting with entities that comply with the secondary Arab boycott of IsraelCHAPTER 148 - NATIONAL DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL BASE, DEFENSE REINVESTMENT, AND DEFENSE CONVERSION§ 2537 Improved national defense control of technology diversions overseasCHAPTER 152 - ISSUE OF SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES§ 2547. Excess nonlethal supplies: humanitarian reliefCHAPTER 155 - ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND SERVICES§ 2607. Acceptance of gifts for the Defense Intelligence College§ 2608. Acceptance of contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities.CHAPTER 157 - TRANSPORTATION§ 2642. Reimbursement rate for airlift services provided to Central Intelligence AgencyCHAPTER 159 - REAL PROPERTY; RELATED PERSONAL PROPERTY; AND LEASE OF NONEXCESS PROPERTY§ 2662. Real property transactions: reports to congressional committees§ 2680. Leases: land for special operations activities.§ 2682. Facilities for defense agencies.§ 2692. Storage and disposal of nondefense toxic and hazardous materials.CHAPTER 167 - DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY§ 2791. Establishment and duties.§ 2792. Maps, charts, and books.§ 2793. Pilot charts.§ 2794. Prices of maps, charts, and navigational publications.§ 2795. Exchange of mapping, charting, and geodetic data with foreign countries and international organizations.§ 2796. Maps, charts, and geodetic data: public availability; exceptions.CHAPTER 169 - MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSINGCHAPTER 303 - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYCHAPTER 307 - THE ARMY§ 3065. Assignment and detail: officers assigned or detailed to basic and special branchesCHAPTER 503 - DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY§ 5013. Secretary of the Navy§ 5015. Under Secretary of the Navy§ 5022. Office of Naval Research: duties.§ 5023. Office of Naval Research: appropriations; time limit.§ 5024. Naval Research Advisory Committee.CHAPTER 539 - ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS§ 5587. Regular Navy: officers designated for engineering duty, aeronautical engineering duty, and special dutyCHAPTER 803 - DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE§ 8013. Secretary of the Air Force§ 8015. Under Secretary of the Air Force.§ 8016. Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:20

De coalitie zou ook moet optreden tegen andere terroristische organisaties, zei de Egyptische president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi zaterdag tegen de Amerikaanse minister John Kerry van Buitenlandse Zaken.

De coalitie zou zich moeten richten op terrorisme in het Midden-Oosten en Afrika, zei Sisi. De president sprak ook zijn zorgen uit over de hoeveelheid Westerse buitenlanders die voor IS vechten. Die vormen een gevaar voor het land waar ze vandaan komen, omdat ze met hun Westerse paspoorten ongemoeid met het vliegtuig kunnen reizen.

Bronnen binnen het veiligheidsapparaat van Egypte zeggen dat IS contacten heeft met de militanten Egyptische beweging Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. Die organisatie heeft sinds het afzetten van de islamitische president Mohamed Mursi vorig jaar honderden veiligheidstroepen gedood.

Het is mogelijk dat Sisi wil dat de coalitie tegen IS ook optreedt tegen Ansar en de Moslimbroederschap, de politieke partij van Mursi die is bestempeld als terreurorganisatie.

Zeker 10 Arabische landen hebben laten weten mee te willen doen met de coalitie.

Vier dingen die u moet weten over IS | Islamitische Staat zonder bondgenoten l Dossier Irak

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 06:52

Nederlandse jihadisten zijn in Syri en Irak doorgedrongen tot de top van terreurorganisatie Islamitische Staat (IS). Sommigen hebben direct contact met de hoogste leider Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, schrijft De Telegraaf zaterdag. De krant heeft een lijst van 136 Nederlandse jihadisten samengesteld.

De Nederlandse jihadist Abu Ubaida al-Maghribi had volgens de krant een leidende rol in de IS-gevangenis waar de Amerikaanse journalist James Foley gevangenzat voordat hij werd onthoofd. Hij zou inmiddels zelf door eigen strijders zijn vermoord omdat hij verdacht werd van spionage.

Een ander voorbeeld is 'koppensneller' Khalid K. uit Almere. Op een foto poseert hij met de Duitse jihadist Denis Mamadou Gerhard Cuspert, een Duitse bekeerling die zijn carri¨re als rapper Deso Dogg opgaf en nu tot de entourage van Al-Baghdadi behoort. K. werd eerder al op de gevoelige plaat vastgelegd terwijl hij poseerde bij vijf afgehakte hoofden.

Indien u geregistreerd bent, kunt u hieronder reageren op het artikel. Hiertoe dient u in te loggen.

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 05:14

British female jihadists are running 'brothels' where thousands of Iraqi women are being forced to work after being captured by Islamic State militants, it has been reported.

Shocking new details have emerged after it was revealed young British girls are behind an ultra-religious all female militia in Raqqa that is brutally punishing "un-Islamic behaviour" in the area, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Sources now claim that the women, who travelled from the UK to marry militant fighters, have set up brothels for the IS fighters to use.

READ MORE: British Female Jihadist And Her Islamic State Militant Husband Fall Out Over Lost Kitten

A source told the Mirror: "These women are using barbaric interpretations of the Islamic faith to justify their actions.

"They believe the militants can use these women as they please as they are non-Muslims. It is the British women who have risen to the top of the Islamic State's sharia police and now they are in charge of this operation.

"It is as bizarre as it is perverse."

Iraqi women at the Khazair displacement camp for those caught up in fighting around Mosul queue for food

The terrorist group, formally known as ISIS, are killing and enslaving members of Iraq's ancient religious minorities, including Assyrian Christians and the Yazidis.

Last month two UN officials issued a joint statement on the "barbaric acts" of sexual violence committed by ISIS fighters.

"We condemn, in the strongest terms, the explicit targeting of women and children and the barbaric acts the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' has perpetrated on minorities in areas under its control, and we remind all armed groups that acts of sexual violence are grave human rights violations that can be considered as war crimes and crimes against humanity," Nickolay Mladenov, special representative of the UN secretary-general for Iraq and Zainab Hawa Bangura, special representative of the secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, said.

The statement, reported by Newsweek, cited evidence of "savage rapes" being used as weapons of war against women and teenage boys and girls belonging to the Yazidi, Christian, Turkomen and Shabak minority groups in Iraq.

Academic and Middle East expert Haleh Esfandiari has said ISIS allow their followers to rape captured girls and women as a "reward".

British female jihadist Zahra Halane

"ISIS has received considerable world attention for its savage beheadings, executions of captured soldiers and men in conquered towns and villages, violence against Christians and Shiites, and the destruction of non-Sunni shrines and places of worship," she blogged for the Wall Street Journal.

"But its barbarity against women has been treated as a side issue. Arab and Muslim governments, vocal on the threat ISIS poses to regional stability, have been virtually silent on ISIS's systemic degradation, abuse, and humiliation of women.

"To the men of ISIS, women are an inferior race, to be enjoyed for sex and be discarded, or to be sold off as slaves."

One teenager taken captive by IS has described being forced into sexual slavery by the Islamist terrorists along with 40 other women, some as young as 12.

The 17-year-old Yazidi, who is still in captivity, said her torturers were "people without a heart" who "do not even spare the women with small children".

She claimed the women in her group of captives - all Yazidis - were being sexually abused on a daily basis, while being held in a building with barred windows and guarded by armed men.

"I beg you not to publish my name because I'm so ashamed of what they are doing to me," she told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper in an exclusive report.

"There's a part of me that just wants to die. But there is another part of me that still hopes that I will be saved and that I will be able to embrace my parents once again."

The paper was given a mobile number for the girl by her parents, who are in a refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The distraught teenager added: "To hurt us even more, they told us to describe in detail to our parents what they are doing. They laugh at us because they think they are invincible.

Experts have warned that women are the new target for recruitment for the Islamic State (IS), with researchers seeing "unprecedented" calls for fighters to marry British and European women.

The women, most of whom are just teenagers, are bombarding IS fighters with marriage proposals during social media 'Q&As' and researchers estimate as many as 50, most of them British, could have already gone to join fighters in Syria and Iraq.

Four women from the UK have so far been identified by experts including a 16-year-old schoolgirl from Chorlton, Manchester and an Irn-Bru loving Glaswegian.

1Twins Salma and Zahra Halane

The 16-year-old schoolgirls from Chorlton, Manchester, followed their brother who had also gone to fight in Syria. They are now married to ISIS fighters, and told a reporter for their local paper that they spend most of their time indoors, leaving only with their husbands. Both twins, the daughters of Somali refugees, had achieved excellent GCSE results, 23 grades A*-C between them at Whalley Range High School for Girls. A twitter account linked to one of the twins shows a woman in a burka, with an AK47, as the profile picture.2Khadijah Dare aka Muhajirah fi Sham

Khadijah Dare, a mother of one originally from Lewisham, has engaged in active recruitment of women for Isis. She left Britain in 2012 to live in Syria with her Swedish husband. Writing on Twitter under her name Muhajirah fi Sham, which means immigrant in Syria, Dare praised the killing of US journalist James Foley, saying: ''Any links 4 da execution of da journalist plz. Allahu Akbar. UK must b shaking up ha ha. I wna b da 1st UK woman 2 kill a UK or US terorrist!(sic)''. In a recruitment video for the group, the 22-year-old can be seen firing an AK47, calling on Brits to come and fight. ''Instead of sitting down and focusing on your families or focusing on your studies, you need to stop being selfish because time is ticking," she said.3Aqsa Mahmood aka Umm Layth

Umm Layth was a prolific tweeter until she was identified in the press as 20-year-old Glaswegian Aqsa Mahmood. In her tweets, she urged Muslim men and women who could not come to fight to instead commit terrorist atrocities at home, praising the brutal murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, the bombing of the Boston Marathon and the shooting of soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas. "If you cannot make it to the battlefield, then bring the battlefield to yourself," she tweeted. Mahmood, who is now married to an Isis fighter, attended the prestigious Craigholme School and was studying radiography at Glasgow Caledonian University when she left for Syria. Her family reported her missing to police in November 2013. Despite praising al Qaeda terrorists and encouraging more attacks, her tweets betray her Westernised roots. One asks for someone to "make a Hijrah [pilgrimage] from Scotland already and bring me Irn-Bru.'' She also tweeted with delight at receiving European food, including Pringles crisps and Nutella.4Al Khanssaa

A close friend of Aqsa and a Brit of Somalian heritage, Khanssaa is described on Twitter as the "cook of the house" in Raqqa where several girls live. She tweets them offering up Nutella pancakes. Unlike many of the other girls who have tweeted about how their families disapprove of their mission to Syria, Khanssaa said she is following in the footsteps of her father who left her family to fight a holy war, though she does not specify where.5Umm Anwar / Umm Farris

With the black flag of Isis as her profile picture, Umm Anwar, who also goes by the name Umm Farris, is one of the four British girls married to an Islamic State fighters who has only recently been identified by researchers. She is believed to be based in Raqqa, and recently said she was surprised to discover a 'Yazidi slave girl' from Iraq in a home she visited. As well as retweeting praise for Islamic State fighters and the Caliphate, she mentions shopping and joking with her friends in the city while her husband fights.6GreenBirds22

Though much of her account extols the virtue of jihad, the third member of the British girl gang in Raqqa peppers her tweets with English slang, like 'ain't' and calls her fellow ISIS wives 'babesss'. Going under the name 'Black Banners' on Twitter, where her profile picture includes Osama Bin Laden, she suggested she is the second wife of a fighter She tweets about being ''bored'' in Raqqa and asks her friends repeatedly to meet up and visit her. Her twitter also includes retweets of beautiful pictures and Vines, including a sunset at the Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco, and a comedy sketch about accidentally dropping a cookie in milk.

7UkhtiB

A close friend of Anwar, the pair joke about their shopping habits on Twitter, arrange lifts, drink smoothies and cook each other food. Her background is unclear, but she hints that her family disapprove of her being in Syria, tweeting: ''Your family will be the biggest test for you once you make Hijrāh. They're either with you or without you.'' Much of her feed consists of retweets of local fighters and of Islamic sayings, as well as graphic pictures of the dead from Iraq, Syria and Gaza.

8Umm Talib

The fourth member of the group of girls in Raqqa, who calls herself Qad Af-Iahal Shuhada, has a son with her, and is believed to be from London or the south of England, having tweeted about leaving her Oyster card in the pocket of her abaya, a type of female Muslim covering, while she put it in the watch. A foodie, she recently retweeted a recipe for Vietnamese chicken with avocado and lemongrass spring rolls, then messaged her friend to tell her she was cooking for them. Other tweets include a picture of the girls out for dinner in Raqqa, eating hummus and pita with chilli and vegetables.9Umm Khattab

One of the most prolific tweeters amongst the women in Isis is a British 18-year-old who goes under the twitter handle @UmmKhattab, who has tweeted about previously being based in the town of Manbij, close to Aleppo, tweeting sunsets from the rooftops, but has recently moved to Raqqa. "Best thing ive done in my 18 years in this world is come to the blessed land of shaam and leave Britain the land of kuffar," she posted in June. And she tweeted a dim view of the UK's plan to strip returning jihadists of their citizenship. "Uk government are funny im not returning to ur dirty society which has no moral values y'all r all uncivilised and need islam to liberate u," she wrote.10Sally Jones aka Umm Hussain al-Britani

Formerly a rock musician in a local band, the 45-year-old mother-of-two from Chatham, Kent, is believed to have converted to Islam to marry a British Isis fighter Junaid Hussain. The couple are reported to have moved to Raqqa, leaving her children behind. Her Twitter account under the name Umm Hussain al-Britani, contains threats like "You Christians all need beheading with a blunt knife and stuck on the railings at Raqqa... Come here I'll do it for you."

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Inside The Chilling Online World Of The Women Of ISISYour Post Has Been Launched!

Fabulous! Don't forget to share with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.update

The Facebook profiles embedded in the original version of this story have been deactivated and replaced with screenshots of the pages. ''All of those pages have been removed as they violate our standards, which don't permit terrorist groups to use our site,'' Facebook communications manager Andrew Souvall confirmed.

2. Twenty-year-old Aqsa Mahmood recently made headlines around the world when her parents revealed that she had run away from her home in Scotland and traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and marry a militant.Courtesy Mahmood Family

3. Like many young women, Mahmood has several social media profiles, including a Tumblr page (which she has been updating regularly from Syria) under the name Umm Layth.4. A look at her blog's archive reveals her intense interest in Islam and apparent desire to become a jihadi. It also shows communications with other like-minded women, such as the one below, which was posted before Mahmood left her home in November 2013.7. In Syria, Mahmood began updating her blog with descriptions of her life as a member of ISIS. In April 2014, she posted that she had set up a new Twitter account.8. The account and its interactions indicate that it's likely being run by an English-speaking young woman living in Syria.12. A Facebook search of the usernames followed by Mahmood's account yields similar results. The women of ISIS appear to have established networks across social media platforms, which they use to connect with one another and recruit other women.13. Some use Ask.fm to answer questions about the process of traveling to Syria to join the insurgency.ask.fm / Via Google Cache: this account has been deleted.

15. Interested parties are directed to online guides with step-by-step instructions on how to get to ISIS-controlled territory '-- including advice on how to deceive Turkish customs agents.17. This online support is necessary, since some women make the journey without their family's permission. In a blog post, Mahmood explains how to deal with familial pressure.The first phone call you make once you cross the borders is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. Your parents are already worried enough over where you are, wether you are okay and what's happened. How does a parent who has little Islamic knowledge and understanding comprehend why their son or daughter has left their well off life, education and a bright future behind to go live in a war torn country. Most likely they will blame themselves, they will think they have done something. But until they truly understand from the bottom of their heart that you have done this action sincerely for Allah's sake they will live in hope that you will return. They might assume this is a 'phase' you are going through or a huge mistake you have made. I know of people who have been here in Shaam for over 2 years and their parents still try to persuade them to come back and live in false hope. Make Duaa that Allaah makes it easy for your parents to understand and accept your Hijrah feesabeelilah.

Sometimes it would be easier for you to accept your parents disowning you and wanting nothing to do with you.

However when you hear them sob and beg like crazy on the phone for you to come back it's so hard. Wallahi it's so hard to hear this and I can never do justice to how cold hearted you feel. But as long as you are firm and you know that this is all for the sake of Allah then nothing can shake you inshaAllaah.

20. Some women appear to have chosen to cover up more than is required, adding gloves and additional veils so none of their skin can be seen.36. In an update to her blog on Thursday, Mahmood echoed this sentiment, vowing that she and her fellow insurgents would only return to their homelands ''to raise our flag.''All of us disassociated ourselves from our families, friends and societies. We make it known to the world that never has our allegiance been to the Scottish, British, Swedish, American, Canadian etc'.... government. Wallahi we are free of those living in the West who know and proclaim the Shahadah while being beneath the feet of the Kuffar. Ittaqullah.

Know this Cameron/Obama, you and your countries will be beneath our feet and your Kufr will be destroyed, this is a promise from Allah swt that we have no doubt over. If not you then your grandchildren or their grandchildren. But worry not, somewhere along the line your blood will be spilled by our cubs in Dawlah. We have conquered these lands once Beithnillah we will do it again. Read up on your History, and know that it will repeat itself, you will pay Jizyah to us just like you did in the past. This Islamic Empire shall be known and feared world wide and we will follow none other than the Law of the one and the only ilah!

So our answer to our passports being confiscated? Wow wallahiil Adheeem biggest joke of this week. The only time we will ever, ever return to those lands beithnillah is to raise our flag.

37. The Facebook page Diary of a Muhajirah provides a fascinating look into this society and the ISIS way of life. The blogger is a Western woman who originally travelled to Syria to work as a doctor.38. In one post, the woman, who calls herself Bird of Jannah, describes her arranged marriage to her militant husband two months after she arrived in Syria. They met and were married on the same day.39. Her posts suggest the marriage is a happy one.40. Marriage to a fighter is essentially a requirement for all women who join ISIS. Since they are forbidden from engaging in armed combat, their primary role appears to be taking care of their husbands, and, eventually, children.42. Mahmood explains this to female would-be jihadis on her blog. ''It's most appropriate and better for the sisters to get married sooner.''I have stressed this before on twitter but I really need sisters to stop dreaming about coming to Shaam and not getting married. Wallahi life here is very difficult for the Muhajirat and we depend heavily on the brothers for a lot of support. It is not like the west where you can casually walk out and go to Asda/Walmart and drive back home'... even till now we have to stay safe outside and must always be accompanied by a Mahram.

Even though we are living in land which is under the control of Doula, there are still a lot of munafiqeen roaming the streets openly. Unless of course if you have family here, if your father or brother is here then it is a different situation. Regardless, it's most appropriate and better for the sisters to get married sooner.

44. Many of the brides of ISIS are young. This newly engaged woman lists her age as 21 on her Facebook profile.45. The constant fighting leaves many new wives alone for lengths of time. ''Nothing beats the palpitation that a Mujahid's wife has whilst checking list names of the Martyrs,'' one wife explained.46. As a result, many of these new brides are soon widowed (and remarried, after an appropriate amount of time).47. Although the men do the fighting, the women of ISIS use social media to glorify the group's horrific ''victories''. Many women, including this self-proclaimed UK citizen, posted graphic images of journalist James Foley being beheaded by an insurgent.48. One ISIS woman (whose Facebook profile claims that she went to a Chicago high school) complained about not being able to post graphic decapitation images on her page.56. On 9/11, many gleefully posted about the anniversary of the terrorist attacks against America.59. Or posted about the ''hero'' and ''martyr'' Osama bin Laden.facebook.com / Via Muslim Women In Jihad: This page has been deleted.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:32

ISTANBUL

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have gotten hold of most sophisticated guns left in Iraq by the United States, Turkish PM Davutoğlu says.'The most sophisticated guns that the U.S. left in Iraq were totally, entirely possessed by the ISIL,' says Turkish PM Davutoğlu. AA photo

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have gotten hold of most sophisticated guns left in Iraq by the United States, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said. ''The most sophisticated guns that the U.S. left in Iraq were totally, entirely possessed by the ISIL,'' he said during a televised interview Sept. 12.

Radicalization is a great threat against the world, the prime minister said, adding that the sectarian clashes in Syria were a result of the fact that a 12 percent minority in the country bid to rule the nation.

''Those who feel alienated tend to become radicals,'' he said as he highlighted that Turkey would not want any radicalization or terror bodies touching its borders.

Davutoğlu also opposed an idea to back Bashar al-Assad, arguing that such a move would direct the moderate opposition in the country toward him.

''The Middle Eastern people should not be forced to a choice between the two bad options,'' he said.

September/13/2014

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Washington Post (blog)'Ž- 3 days ago

ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Todd followed up with, "Obviously, if you're going to defeat ISIS, you have used very ...

ISIS vs ISIL -- What's in a Name? | Howard Barbanelwww.huffingtonpost.com/.../isis-vs-isil-whats-in-a-n...2 days ago - Within any given newscast, we can see Administration spokespeople wax on about ISIL while the anchors, analysts and correspondents keep ...ISIL or ISIS? Why the world can't decide - Quartzqz.com/222726/isil-or-isis-why-the-world-cant-decide/Jun 19, 2014 - Fighters of ISIL... or ISIS... or whatever... stand guard at a checkpoint in ... ancient Greeks and other civilizations as ''Syria'' or a variant thereof, ...

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:56

Iraqis flock to ISIS during conquests earlier this summer. (Image via Tea Party Tribune)

ISIS is busy neutralizing the Syrian factions that might make common cause with the United States. On Thursday, Breitbart London reported that several dozen leaders of Syrian rebel factions opposed to ISIS, who were gathered at a meeting in northwestern Syria, were killed in a massive explosion on Wednesday.

Huffington Post on Friday evening summarized reports that ISIS has signed a non-aggression deal with a separate group of rebel factions in Syria, nominally so that all of the factions can continue to fight the Assad regime.

According to the Dubai-based Arabic news site Orient News, one of the signatories to the agreement is the Syrian Revolutionary Front (SRF), a group that has received U.S. support and has been touted as a likely partner for a U.S. strategy to oppose ISIS in Syria.

The SRF has been losing ground in recent weeks, suffering a major blow when one of its top commanders was killed at the end of August. At the same time, the SRF was reported to be fighting alongside al-Qaeda-affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra in southern Syria, including the battle for the crossing point with Israel in the Golan over which the rebel factions claimed control on 27 August.

Now it appears that the non-aggression pact with ISIS was brokered by Jabhat al-Nusra. None of this comes as a surprise to those who've been following along with Patrick Poole at PJ Media. On 3 September, Poole outlined the continuing cooperation of factions in the Free Syrian Army with ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra '' cooperation that has resulted in a flow of U.S.-supplied weaponry to the latter two armies. On 9 September, he expounded on a report from the Los Angeles Times that one of the ''vetted moderate'' groups, Harakat Hazm, is quite open about fighting alongside Jabhat al-Nusra.

The U.S. has already given this group anti-tank missiles. Appended to Poole's analysis is the tweeted text of an alliance agreement concluded by ''vetted moderate'' faction Harakat Hazm and other similar groups with Jabhat al-Nusra. The text was tweeted on 8 July.

It's not just credible, it's highly bloody likely that some of the rebel factions '' including U.S. client SRF '' have indeed made a pact with ISIS. The fact that it won't be worth a bucket of warm spit ought to serve not as an encouragement to U.S. delusions of a meaningful alliance in Syria, but as a warning.

The evanescent quality of alliances and deals among factions in Syria is a terribly unpromising condition for Obama's proposed mode of passive-aggressive U.S. military operations there. So is the ease with which ISIS (almost certainly) has just blown nearly 50 of their leaders up.

It's hard to issue the warning about this trenchantly enough '' and a similar concern must apply in Iraq as well, given the parlous state of national unity and regional cohesion. Iraq may look simpler and less like a free-for-all, but ISIS is already there, and with each day that passes is able to build a more extensive network of clients and affiliated cadre around the area in which the U.S. plans to operate.

This would be one thing if we were going in in force. But we're not. Our posture in northern Iraq will bear no resemblance to what we've been used to in Afghanistan for the last five years. In Afghanistan, we have tens of thousands of troops still, and sizable, heavily fortified redoubts to quarter them in. The size of our forces and their level of protection are still prohibitive for the Taliban outside the fences.

Overview of ISIS control, early Sep 2014. (Map via BBC)

Overextending

It cannot be overemphasized that that will not be the case in Iraq. We aren't sending in a force with overwhelming superiority. In fact, we're actually going to be putting a small concentration of troops who aren't professional ground-pounders in a very vulnerable position in one place in particular: the air base at Irbil (or Erbil) in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, where we will reportedly be basing strike-fighters.

I'm really not sure why we're doing this. I mean, I know why: the Turks won't let us use their air bases to launch strike-fighters for attacks in Iraq or Syria. To operate Air Force F-15s or F-16s in either country, the most convenient operating base will therefore be in Iraq. (Up to now, Air Force strike-fighters have been using bases in Kuwait and Qatar. Navy F/A-18s have been operating from USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) in the Persian Gulf. This makes for long flights and abbreviated availability on-station, however.)

We have had a small number of combat helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft at Irbil since early August, providing air support for Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. (Drones are presumably being flown out of Irbil as well.) It's not that we don't have a small concentration of troops and high-value weaponry there already. It's that we're going to be expanding the size of it, but without changing the basis for our presence or operations.

Irbil is an exposed and poorly defended facility, especially for a guerrilla force that quite probably is armed with antitank missiles (which can be used effectively against anything big with a nice heat signature) and a variety of shoulder-fired and battlefield rockets. The New York Times has been posting a useful set of graphics throughout the ISIS campaign (here), and has an excellent generic view of the approaches to Irbil (below; the original annotations relate to events in early August).

Of particular note is the short distance between Irbil and the line of ISIS control to the west, which today is about 35 miles. The darker shaded areas on the terrain view indicate spots where ISIS-led fighters have recently conducted attacks on Kurdish forces.

Vulnerable approaches to Irbil. Forward line of ISIS control in red; locations of recent attacks in darker shade. (Graphic: NYT; author annotations added)

The next map shows the larger strategic vulnerability of Irbil, with Sunni enclaves to both the west and south, and an uncertain mix of conditions to the east, on the other side of the Iranian border. The Sunni areas are ISIS's recruiting grounds; the enclave of Sulaymaniyah and its corridor from Iran are big question marks in terms of friendliness to the U.S. presence.

Demographics of the Iraqi terrain. (Map via BBC)

The threat problem here is not that ISIS will be able to conquer and occupy Kurdish territory, but that it will be able to infiltrate Kurdish territory to conduct attacks on the U.S. forces in Irbil as well as the Kurds. (One form of attack, we must not forget, is the use of anti-air missiles. The one thing a guerrilla force with shorter-range, lower-altitude missiles usually has trouble doing is getting close to the airfield where the aircraft have to take off and land. Oops.)

The size and character of the U.S. contingent that will be in Irbil are not suited for taking the fight to guerrilla troops operating in the local area. Our force will have to rely on the Kurds for that: for keeping ISIS fighters too far away to inflict significant damage on us. We'll have air assets to support them with, but security for our base is not something we'll have the final say over, in terms of its operational priority in the fight or the comfort level we might prefer.

We'll be depending on a condition we may very well not have, at least not for long: i.e., that Irbil doesn't need to be heavily fortified or built up. Besides the helicopters (it's not clear if we have standard-issue Apaches, Black Hawks, or perhaps special forces helicopters based at Irbil) and the Ospreys, we'll be moving in ground support for strike-fighters and large batches of weaponry, along with the airframes themselves. The attractiveness of the Irbil air base as a target will increase dramatically. And even if we harden the facility itself, hardening the approaches to it '' keeping a guerrilla force from being able to get close to it '' is going to be difficult, if there is any breach in the Kurds' defense of Irbil as an urban stronghold.

There won't be a secure ground line of communication (GLOC) between Irbil and the rest of Iraq. But this will not be like the 2001 entry into Afghanistan, which we made with a clear-cut and measureable purpose, and for which we had the prior buy-in of a key neighbor: Pakistan. Expanding our footprint at Irbil, with no GLOC and no formal relations with the nearest neighbor, Iran, is one of the longest-tether and most exposed things we've ever done.

Now add to that mix the likelihood that an unusually well-organized, well-funded ISIS can exploit shifting loyalties '' or at the very least can wield intimidation '' among every local faction that is not Kurdish, and perhaps it will be clear the kind of danger we are courting. ISIS isn't going to just sit still while we increase our footprint and ramp up bombing operations, while not changing our methods or operational objectives.

Inside our ''OODA loop''

In fact, ISIS hasn't sat still. Once Obama made his speech on Wednesday, the option of mounting coordinated attacks on ISIS's strategic rear in Syria immediately became a major threat posed by the U.S. If we could do it effectively, we could force ISIS to defend its rear: shift resources away from the campaign in Iraq, and perhaps even rework its overall strategy.

So ISIS promptly took out nearly 50 opposition rebel leaders and signed its non-aggression agreement with America's potential partners in Syria.

Remember that ISIS doesn't have to show good faith over time with any of those Syrian factions. It just has to preempt their cooperation with the United States. The mechanism for that is straightforward. We're an easy read '' ponderous making decisions, easily spooked, committed to at least perfunctory public transparency '' and our president is a slow learner.

If ISIS can prevent anyone in Syria from cooperating with the U.S., ISIS can concentrate its effort in Iraq, where our forces on the ground will be: small, scattered, un-concentrated, embedded with local groups which may not all be fighting for the same objectives. Remember this also: Obama is determined not to overlay an obtrusively coherent U.S. framework on this operation. Kurds fighting in northern Iraq and Sunnis fighting along the Euphrates in Anbar '' each with a separate ill-defined connection to the struggling Shia-majority government in Baghdad '' will have the lead.

Even in Vietnam and Somalia, I don't think we've ever backed into anything with our hindquarters flapping quite so egregiously in the breeze. Military success doesn't just happen. It's as much a matter of political will, and a coherent strategy and operational plan, as it is of training, expertise, and weapons superiority at the tactical level. Assuming we do go ahead with the plan-deficient, few-boots non-war the Obama administration has been proclaiming for the last 72 hours, I am very concerned that American troops could find themselves vulnerable under fire and fighting for their lives within weeks.

I would actually feel better at this point if we weren't enlarging our footprint in Irbil at all, but instead planned to just keeping flying strike-fighters from Kuwait and Qatar. There are sound operational reasons to be gravely concerned about Obama's decision to dismiss the advice of his military leaders and go with a toxic brew of half-measure objectives and exposed deployment situations.

The rapid, cynical, homicidal initiative shown by ISIS in seeking to neutralize Obama's Syria option is a pretty good indicator of what we'll be up against. Pundits and officials who are vocally criticizing the president are not just showing partisan sour grapes. This is real, and it's bad.

Hi Adam & John

Name: Group Perception Disorder. Symptoms: Compulsive marketing of self image, ironically directed towards an audience which is made non receptive by its own obsession with self image. Cure: No known cure, although exposure to no agenda therapy may improve this condition.

You mentioned the constant use of "I" is made by those who lack secure social standing. No wonder "i-phone" and "i-pad" were marketing marvels for low self esteem individuals.

Why does our society suffer from low self esteem. Possibly it is by design?

In the past there were several pillars to support social frameworks: 1) Family 2) Religion 3) Nationalism / Cultural pride 4) Government 5) Self Reliance

Sexuality is promoted but family is not, Christianity is scoffed at, nationalism is smeared as racism and self reliance eroded by socialism. The last pillar left standing is government. Our government education systems seem to have dismantled all alternative pillars in society, now we can only serve government. Even bonds of friendship have been eroded in society by the current promotion of selfies. Soulless tablets and phones are now promoted as virtual companions.

Pillars which have been dismantled have been replaced by false flags. We are distracted by terror, global warming and minority rights. Meanwhile the majority are disenfranchised from the influences that stimulate high self esteem i.e. family, religion, cultural pride and self reliance.

Just my opinion.

For your radar

We know a doctor in Venezuela. Her hospital recently instructed her not to come in. Two hospitals in two different cities are presently sealed of from the public. In the last week thirty people have quickly died from an unknown disease. Internal organs hemorrhage, skin blisters and bleeds. Life expectancy after contraction is a maximum of three days. Local doctors believe a new lab infection has been deliberately placed within hospitals. The government is trying to quell panic.

Could this be part of a counter move against those who are deploying Ebola in Africa?

Local media reference in Spanish:

http://www.eluniversal.com/vida/140911/denuncian-ocho-fallecidos-en-hospital-de-maracay-por-enfermedad-descon

Have you found anything more about the Boston connection - ground truth? The Brit who is lined up for a head chop was hard core military and was active in the Yugoslav civil war.. Amazzzing! Jihadi tourism - Hotel Isis offers behead & breakfast in a captivating enviroment.

Excuse the long email. Keep up the good work.

John & Selene

Overview: "tech enslavement disorder" or T.E.D as it is more commonly known be many health care providers refers to a group of symptoms often associated with more serious neurological disorders. Symptoms include excessive and sometimes obsessive use of social media, moderate to severe apathy, severe objectophilia, especially in regards to apple products and technologies, and mild to moderate complacency. In more serious cases, patients may exhibit mild to moderate hysteria, impaired decision making, and increased susceptibility to distraction.

If you experience signs or symptoms of T.E.D. you should seek medical help immediately. While there is no cure for T.E.D. yet known, there are many efficacious treatments available. Biweekly 3 hour doses of No agenda show have shown promise as a T.E.D. treatment in some individuals. Other treatment option should be discussed with your physician.

Related Searches:

S.A.D. - Slavery acceptance disorder

T.S.A. - Toe smelling addiction

Trevor

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Archived Version

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:51

Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.[1][2][3] The term, an abbreviation for "no-mobile-phone phobia",[4] was coined during a 2010 study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organization to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users. The study found that nearly 53% of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they "lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage". The study found that about 58% of men and 47% of women suffer from the phobia, and an additional 9% feel stressed when their mobile phones are off. The study sampled 2,163 people. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed cited keeping in touch with friends or family as the main reason that they got anxious when they could not use their mobile phones.[5][2] The study compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be on-par with those of "wedding day jitters" and trips to the dentists.[6] Ten percent of those questioned said they needed to be contactable at all times because of work. It is, however, arguable that the word 'phobia' is misused and that in the majority of cases it is only a normal anxiety.[7]

More than one in two nomophobes never switch off their mobile phones.[8] The study and subsequent coverage of the phobia resulted in two editorial columns authored by those who minimize their mobile phone use or choose not to own one at all, treating the condition with light undertones of or outright disbelief and amusement.[9][10]

Michael Quinion characterized the word as "dreadful faux-Greek" and observed that a more suitable sense of nomophobia '' since Greeknomos means "law" '' is "a neurotic fear of the law".[11]

ReferencesEdit^"Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact - and it's the plague of our 24/7 age | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2011-08-10. ^ abCharlie D'Agata Nomophobia: Fear of being without your cell phone. CBS News. April 3, 2008^Archana Jayakumar (April 3, 2008). "Break free from Nomophobia, drunkorexia". Mid-day.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10. ^"Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact - and it's the plague of our 24/7 age | News". Thisislondon.co.uk. April 1, 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-10. ^Dixit, Sanjay; Shukla, Harish; Bhagwat, AK; Bindal, Arpita; Goyal, Abhilasha; Zaidi, Aliak; Shrivastava, Akansha (2010). "A Study to Evaluate Mobile Phone Dependence Among Students of a Medical College and Associated Hospital of Central India". Indian Journal of Community Medicine35 (2): 339''41. doi:10.4103/0970-0218.66878. PMC 2940198. PMID 20922119. ^"13m Britons have 'no mobile phobia'". Metro.co.uk. 2008-03-30. Retrieved 2011-08-10. ^"SocialTechPop". Nomophobia vs Gnomophobia. Retrieved 20 February 2012. ^My Name Is Mo R., And I Am A Nomophobe, CBSnews.com. February 11, 2009. Retrieved August 2011^"I refuse to carry a mobile phone | The Sun |News". The Sun. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2012-01-05. ^Column: Nomophobia: "No more phobia". siude.com. March 4, 2008^Michael Quinion. "Nomophobia". World Wide Words. Retrieved October 20, 2013. External linksEdit

Hello my name is phillip verdin from chanute ks I'd like to participate in the naming of our nation's new sickness. i-Fluenza. If you like it ive got a jingle in mind let me know. thanks

Contagiously yours, phillip verdin

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Among the hype about Apple Pay transforming our shopping habits, or iOS 8 being Apple's most advanced mobile operating system ever, little has been made of the fact that the new phones, like their predecessors, are set to be cracking children's toys; highly effective distractions on car journeys, handy pacifiers during school holidays, and surrogate virtual-parents for when mum and dad are too busy doing important stuff to engage with their offspring. Thanks Apple, where would we be without you?

In a New York Times article published this week, tech journalist Nick Bilton reveals that Jobs, who died in 2011, was a self-confessed "low-tech parent". When Bilton asked Jobs, in 2010, whether his own kids loved Apple's iPad, Jobs replied: ''They haven't used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.''

Bilton reveals that, since his surprising conversation with Jobs, he has had similar discussions with other high-profile figures in the tech industry.

Chris Anderson, a former editor of Wired, told Bilton that he set strict time limits and parental controls on every device at home. "My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists," he said. "They say that none of their friends have the same rules. That's because we have seen the dangers of technology first hand. I've seen it in myself, I don't want to see that happen to my kids.''

It seems that Jobs, Anderson and others who extol the virtues of electronic devices, who help convince us that such things are essential parts of our daily lives, had serious concerns over the long-term effects of children engaging with touchscreen technology for lengthy periods.

Researchers at the University of California Los Angelesrecently published a study which concluded that removing gadgets from children for just a few days immediately improves their social skills. An article in Newsweek last month suggested that American children spend more than seven and a half hours a day using smartphones and other electronic screens.

So before we all get too carried away with Apple's latest gizmos, perhaps we should all take our cue from Jobs. According to Walter Isaacson, who spent a lot of time at Jobs' house when they worked on a book together, face-to-face family interaction always came before screentime. "Every evening Steve made a point of having dinner at the big long table in their kitchen, discussing books and history and a variety of things,'' Isaacson told Nick Bilton. ''No one ever pulled out an iPad or computer. The kids did not seem addicted at all to devices.''

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The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, is a classification of vices (part of Christian ethics) that has been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct Christians concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin. In the currently recognized version, the sins are usually given as wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. Each is a form of Idolatry-of-Self wherein the subjective reigns over the objective.

The Catholic Church divides sin into two categories: venial sins, in which guilt is relatively minor, and the more severe mortal sins. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a mortal or deadly sin is believed to destroy the life of grace and charity within a person and thus creates the threat of eternal damnation. "Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us '' that is, charity '' necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation."[1]

According to Catholic moral thought, the seven deadly sins are not discrete from other sins, but are instead the origin ("capital" comes from the Latin caput, head) of the others. Vices can be either venial or mortal, depending on the situation, but "are called 'capital' because they engender other sins, other vices".[2]

Beginning in the early 14th century, the popularity of the seven deadly sins as a theme among European artists of the time eventually helped to ingrain them in many areas of Catholic culture and Catholic consciousness in general throughout the world. One means of such ingraining was the creation of the mnemonic acronym "SALIGIA" based on the first letters in Latin of the seven deadly sins: superbia, avaritia, luxuria, invidia, gula, ira, acedia.[3]

Biblical listsEditIn the Book of Proverbs 6:16-19, among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states that the Lord specifically regards "six things the Lord hateth, and seven that are an abomination unto Him", namely:[4]

A proud lookA lying tongueHands that shed innocent bloodA heart that devises wicked plotsFeet that are swift to run into mischiefA deceitful witness that uttereth liesHim that soweth discord among brethrenAnother list, given this time by the Epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 5:19-21), includes more of the traditional seven sins, although the list is substantially longer: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, "and such like".[5] Since Saint Paul goes on to say that the persons who practice these sins "shall not inherit the Kingdom of God", they are usually listed as (possible) mortal sins rather than capital vices.

The modern concept of the seven deadly sins is linked to the works of the 4th century monkEvagrius Ponticus, who listed eight evil thoughts in Greek as follows:[6]

Î'ασÏριμαρÎ"ία (gastrimargia) gluttonyÎ Îρνεία (porneia) prostitution, fornicationÎ...ιÎ>>αρÎ"υρία (philargyria) avariceá½Ïερηφανία (hyperÄ'phania) hubris '' in the Philokalia, this term is rendered as self-esteemΛύÏη (lypÄ') sadness '' in the Philokalia, this term is rendered as envy, sadness at another's good fortuneá½ÏÎ"ή (orgÄ') wrathΚενÎδÎξία (kenodoxia) boastingá¼ÎºÎ·Î´Î¯Î± (akÄ'dia) acedia '' in the Philokalia, this term is rendered as dejectionThey were translated into the Latin of Western Christianity (largely due to the writings of John Cassian),[7] thus becoming part of the Western tradition's spiritual pietas (or Catholic devotions), as follows:[8]

Gula (gluttony)Fornicatio (fornication, lust)Avaritia (avarice/greed)Superbia (hubris, pride)Tristitia (sorrow/despair/despondency)Ira (wrath)Vanagloria (vainglory)Acedia (sloth)These "evil thoughts" can be categorized into three types:[8]

lustful appetite (gluttony, fornication, and avarice)irascibility (wrath)intellect (vainglory, sorrow, pride, and Discouragement)In AD 590, a little over two centuries after Evagrius wrote his list, Pope Gregory I revised this list to form the more common Seven Deadly Sins, by folding (sorrow/despair/despondency) into acedia, vainglory into pride, and adding envy.[9] In the order used by Pope Gregory, and repeated by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) centuries later in his epic poem The Divine Comedy, the seven deadly sins are as follows:

luxuria (lechery/lust)[10][11][12]gula (gluttony)avaritia (avarice/greed)acedia (sloth/discouragement)ira (wrath)invidia (envy)superbia (pride)The identification and definition of the seven deadly sins over their history has been a fluid process and the idea of what each of the seven actually encompasses has evolved over time. Additionally, as a result of semantic change:

socordia sloth was substituted for acediaIt is this revised list that Dante uses. The process of semantic change has been aided by the fact that the personality traits are not collectively referred to, in either a cohesive or codified manner, by the Bible itself; other literary and ecclesiastical works were instead consulted, as sources from which definitions might be drawn.[citation needed] Part II of Dante's Divine Comedy, Purgatorio, has almost certainly been the best known source since the Renaissance.[citation needed]

The modern Catholic Catechism lists the sins in Latin as "superbia, avaritia, invidia, ira, luxuria, gula, pigritia seu acedia", with an English translation of "pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth/acedia".[13] Each of the seven deadly sins now also has an opposite among corresponding seven holy virtues (sometimes also referred to as the contrary virtues). In parallel order to the sins they oppose, the seven holy virtues are humility, charity, kindness, patience, chastity, temperance, and diligence.

Historical and modern definitionsEditLustEditLust, or lechery (carnal "luxuria") is an intense desire. Lust could be exemplified by the intense desire of money, food, fame, power or sex.

In Dante's Purgatorio, the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful thoughts and feelings. In Dante's Inferno, unforgiven souls of the sin of lust are blown about in restless hurricane-like winds symbolic of their own lack of self-control to their lustful passions in earthly life.

GluttonyEditDerived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony (Latin, gula) is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste.

In Christianity, it is considered a sin if the excessive desire for food causes it to be withheld from the needy.[14]

Because of these scripts, gluttony can be interpreted as selfishness; essentially placing concern with one's own interests above the well-being or interests of others.

Medieval church leaders (e.g., Thomas Aquinas) took a more expansive view of gluttony,[14] arguing that it could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods.[15] Aquinas went so far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony, comprising:

Praepropere '' eating too soonLaute '' eating too expensivelyNimis '' eating too muchArdenter '' eating too eagerlyStudiose '' eating too daintilyForente '' eating wildlyGreedEditGreed (Latin, avaritia), also known as avarice, cupidity or covetousness, is, like lust and gluttony, a sin of excess. However, greed (as seen by the church) is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "Greed is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things." In Dante's Purgatory, the penitents were bound and laid face down on the ground for having concentrated too much on earthly thoughts. Scavenging[citation needed] and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by Greed. Such misdeeds can include simony, where one attempts to purchase or sell sacraments, including Holy Orders and, therefore, positions of authority in the Church hierarchy.

As defined outside of Christian writings, greed is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth.[16]

SlothEditSloth (Latin, acedia) can entail different vices. While sloth is sometimes defined as physical laziness, spiritual laziness is emphasized. Failing to develop spiritually is key to becoming guilty of sloth. In the Christian faith, sloth rejects grace and God.

Sloth has also been defined as a failure to do things that one should do. By this definition, evil exists when good men fail to act.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) wrote in Present Discontents (II. 78) "No man, who is not inflamed by vain-glory into enthusiasm, can flatter himself that his single, unsupported, desultory, unsystematic endeavours are of power to defeat the subtle designs and united Cabals of ambitious citizens. When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."

Over time, the "acedia" in Pope Gregory's order has come to be closer in meaning to sloth. The focus came to be on the consequences of acedia rather than the cause, and so, by the 17th century, the exact deadly sin referred to was believed to be the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts.[citation needed] Even in Dante's time there were signs of this change; in his Purgatorio he had portrayed the penance for acedia as running continuously at top speed.

WrathEditWrath (Latin, ira), also known as "rage", may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Wrath, in its purest form, presents with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Wrath may persist long after the person who did another a grievous wrong is dead. Feelings of anger can manifest in different ways, including impatience, revenge, and self-destructive behavior, such as drug abuse or suicide.

Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self-interest, although one can of course be wrathful for selfish reasons, such as jealousy (closely related to the sin of envy). Dante described vengeance as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite". In its original form, the sin of wrath also encompassed anger pointed internally as well as externally. Thus suicide was deemed as the ultimate, albeit tragic, expression of hatred directed inwardly, a final rejection of God's gifts.[citation needed]

EnvyEditLike greed and lust, Envy (Latin, invidia) is characterized by an insatiable desire. Envy is similar to jealousy in that they both feel discontent towards someone's traits, status, abilities, or rewards. The difference is the envious also desire the entity and covet it.

Envy can be directly related to the Ten Commandments, specifically, "Neither shall you desire... anything that belongs to your neighbour." Dante defined this as "a desire to deprive other men of theirs". In Dante's Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low. Aquinas described envy as "sorrow for another's good".[17]

PrideEditIn almost every list, pride (Latin, superbia), or hubris (Greek), is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the source of the others. It is identified as believing that one is essentially better than others, failing to acknowledge the accomplishments of others, and excessive admiration of the personal self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbour". In Jacob Bidermann's medievalmiracle play, Cenodoxus, pride is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the titulary famed Parisian doctor. In perhaps the best-known example, the story of Lucifer, pride (his desire to compete with God) was what caused his fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan. In Dante's Divine Comedy, the penitents are burdened with stone slabs on their necks which force them to keep their heads bowed.

Historical sinsEditAcediaEditAcedia (Latin, acedia) (from Greek á¼ÎºÎ·Î´Î¯Î±) is the neglect to take care of something that one should do. It is translated to apathetic listlessness; depression without joy. It is related to melancholy: acedia describes the behaviour and melancholy suggests the emotion producing it. In early Christian thought, the lack of joy was regarded as a willful refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world God created; by contrast, apathy was considered a refusal to help others in time of need.

When Thomas Aquinas described acedia in his interpretation of the list, he described it as an uneasiness of the mind, being a progenitor for lesser sins such as restlessness and instability. Dante refined this definition further, describing acedia as the failure to love God with all one's heart, all one's mind and all one's soul; to him it was the middle sin, the only one characterised by an absence or insufficiency of love. Some scholars[who?] have said that the ultimate form of acedia was despair which leads to suicide.

VaingloryEditVainglory (Latin, vanagloria) is unjustified boasting. Pope Gregory viewed it as a form of pride, so he folded vainglory into pride for his listing of sins.[citation needed]

The Latin term gloria roughly means boasting, although its English cognate - glory - has come to have an exclusively positive meaning; historically, vain roughly meant futile, but by the 14th century had come to have the strong narcissistic undertones, of irrelevant accuracy, that it retains today.[18] As a result of these semantic changes, vainglory has become a rarely used word in itself, and is now commonly interpreted as referring to vanity (in its modern narcissistic sense).

Catholic seven virtuesEditThe Catholic Church also recognizes seven virtues, which correspond inversely to each of the seven deadly sins.

ViceLatinVirtueLatinLustLuxuriaChastityCastitasGluttonyGulaTemperanceTemperantiaGreedAvaritiaCharityCaritasSlothAcediaDiligenceIndustriaWrathIraPatiencePatientiaEnvyInvidiaKindnessHumanitasPrideSuperbiaHumilityHumilitasAssociations with demonsEditIn 1589, Peter Binsfeld paired each of the deadly sins with a demon, who tempted people by means of the associated sin. According to Binsfeld's classification of demons, the pairings are as follows:

This contrasts slightly with an earlier series of pairings found in the fifteenth century English Lollard tract Lanterne of Light, which differs in pairing Leviathan with Envy, Belphegor with Sloth, Beelzebub with Gluttony and matching Lucifer with Pride, Satan with Wrath, Asmodeus with Lust and Mammon with greed.[19]

In Doctor Faustus, there is a "parade" of the seven deadly sins that is conducted by Mephistopheles, Satan, and Beelzebub suggesting that the demons do not match with each deadly sin, but the demons are in command of the seven deadly sins.

According to a 2009 study by a Jesuit scholar, the most common deadly sin confessed by men is lust, and for women, pride.[20] It was unclear whether these differences were due to different rates of commission, or different views on what "counts" or should be confessed.[21]

Cultural referencesEditReferencesEditNotes^Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn.1856. See also nn.1854''1864.^Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1866.^Boyle, Marjorie O'Rourke (1997) [1997-10-23]. "Three: The Flying Serpent". Loyola's Acts: The Rhetoric of the Self. The New Historicism: Studies in Cultural Poetics,36. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 100''146. ISBN 978-0-520-20937-4. ^[bible verse Proverbs 6:16''19]^Galatians^Evagrio Pontico,Gli Otto Spiriti Malvagi, trans., Felice Comello, Pratiche Editrice, Parma, 1990, p.11-12.^Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults^ abRefoule, 1967^Introduction to Paulist Press edition of John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent by Kallistos Ware, p63.^Godsall-Myers, Jean E. (2003). Speaking in the medieval world. Brill. p. 27. ISBN 90-04-12955-3. ^Katherine Ludwig, Jansen (2001). The making of the Magdalen: preaching and popular devotion in the later Middle Ages. Princeton University Press. p. 168. ISBN 0-691-08987-6. ^Vossler, Karl; Spingarn, Joel Elias (1929). Medi...val Culture: The religious, philosophic, and ethico-political background of the "Divine Comedy". University of Michigan: Constable & company. p. 246. ^"Catechism of the Catholic Church". Vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2010-07-24. ^ abOkholm, Dennis. "Rx for Gluttony". Christianity Today, Vol. 44, No. 10, September 11, 2000, p.62^"Gluttony". Catholic Encyclopedia. ^"The Free Dictionary". The Free Dictionary. 1987-04-01. Retrieved 2010-07-24. ^"Summa Theologica: Treatise on The Theological Virtues (QQ[1] - 46): Question. 36 - Of Envy (four articles)". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02. ^Oxford English dictionary^Morton W. Bloomfield, The Seven Deadly Sins, Michigan State College Press, 1952, pp.214-215.^"Two sexes 'sin in different ways'". BBC News. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2010-07-24. ^Morning Edition (2009-02-20). "True Confessions: Men And Women Sin Differently". Npr.org. Retrieved 2010-07-24. BibliographyRefoule, F. (1967) Evagrius Ponticus. In Staff of Catholic University of America (Eds.) New Catholic Encyclopaedia. Volume 5, pp644''645. New York: McGrawHill.Schumacher, Meinolf (2005): "Catalogues of Demons as Catalogues of Vices in Medieval German Literature: 'Des Teufels Netz' and the Alexander Romance by Ulrich von Etzenbach." In In the Garden of Evil: The Vices and Culture in the Middle Ages. Edited by Richard Newhauser, pp. 277''290. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.Further readingEditThe Divine Comedy ("Inferno", "Purgatorio", and "Paradiso"), by Dante AlighieriSumma Theologica, by Thomas AquinasThe Concept of Sin, by Josef PieperThe Traveller's Guide to Hell, by Michael Pauls & Dana FacarosSacred Origins of Profound Things, by Charles PanatiThe Faerie Queene, by Edmund SpenserThe Seven Deadly Sins Series, Oxford University Press (7 vols.)Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies, (Grand Rapids: BrazosPress, 2009)Solomon Schimmel, The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections on Human Psychology, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997)"Doctor Faustus" by Christopher MarloweExternal linksEditSeven Deadly Sins

Persons who categorizedand described the SinsRepresentationsin art and cultureDivine Comedy - Inferno, Purgatorio (Dante)The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things (Bosch)The Seven Deadly Sins (Weill)The Seven Deadly Sins (Autant-Lara, All(C)gret, Dr(C)ville, Rossellini, De Filippo, Rim, Lacombe)The Seven Deadly Sins (de Broca, Chabrol, Demy, Dhomme, Douy, Godard, Ionesco, Molinaro, Vadim)The Seven Deadly Sins (Suzuki)The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (Henson)The Seven Deadly Sins of Modern Times (White)Seven (Fincher)House of Anubis: The Re-AwakeningFullmetal AlchemistRelated

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Share this infographic on your site!Source: BestComputerScienceSchools.net

'— Narcissistic personality disorder involves a preoccupation with self and how one is perceived by others. Narcissists pursue gratification from vanity and the admiration of their own physical and intellectual attributes.

Signs of narcissism:'—‹ Unilateral listening'– Instead of listening in order to respond, narcissists listen in order to dismiss, negate, ignore, minimize or otherwise make someone else's concerns irrelevant'—‹ Preoccupied with self'– Narcissists act selfishly and, even if being generous, are generally only responsive to their own concerns'—‹ Being above the rules'– Narcissists feel that they are above others and that the rules don't apply to them'—‹ Inability to take criticism'– While narcissists have an inflated idea of their own importance, they can be quickly deflated by negative criticism'—‹ Refusal to take responsibility'– Narcissists have a tendency to blame others for things that go wrong'—‹ Quick to anger'– Narcissists may become easily angered by critical comments or being ordered what to do

Negative Effects of Social media:'— According to research from California State University: Excessive use of social networking may be connected to psychiatric problems'—‹ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder'—‹ Depression'—‹ Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder'—‹ Narcissistic Personality Disorder'—‹ Hypochondriasis'—‹ Schizoaffective and Schizotypal Disorders'—‹ Body Dysmorphia'—‹ Voyeurism'—‹ Addiction

The Effects of Popular Platforms:

'— Facebook- The Social Mirror'—‹ People who use Facebook the most tend to have more narcissistic or insecure personalities'—‹ Those with higher narcissism scores were frequently updating statuses, posting pictures of themselves and using quotes or mottos to glorify themselves'—‹ Based on a study of Facebook users ages 18-25 using the Narcissism Personality Inventory and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.'—‹ A 2012 survey of divorce lawyers showed that Facebook had been implicated in '…' of all divorce filings the previous year

'— Twitter- The Social Megaphone'—‹ In a University of Michigan study of college undergraduates, it was found that those who scored higher in narcissism also posted more often on Twitter'—‹ Young people are using Twitter to broaden social circles and broadcast views. This usage leads people to over evaluate the importance of their opinions

Is narcissism an inevitable reaction to our social culture?

Sources:

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/paydirt/2012/04/06/do-iphones-make-us-narcissists/http://www.ryot.org/are-selfies-making-kids-vapid-narcissistic-and-lazy/353601http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201306/do-facebook-and-other-social-media-encourage-narcissismhttp://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/08/04/how-to-spot-a-narcissist/http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201210/are-you-narcissist-6-sure-signs-narcissismhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/facebook-divorce-linked-i_n_3399727.htmlhttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business-tech/technology-news/110809/facebook-social-media-network-child-disorder-psychttp://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201305/phantom-pocket-vibration-syndromehttp://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/21517-you-re-so-vain-u-m-study-links-social-media-and-narcissismhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120319194046.htmhttp://www.cnn.com/2012/03/21/tech/social-media/facebook-narcissistic-behaviors/http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201305/phantom-pocket-vibration-syndromehttp://technorati.com/social-media/article/facebook-linked-to-psychological-disorders-in/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/01/24/many_experts_are_considering_a_redefinition_of_narcissism/

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Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:32

If you are buying a new iPhone, don't use it in bed '-- and not just because nighttime smartphone use messes up your sleep cycle.The blue light from personal electronic devices has also been linked to serious physical and mental health problems.

Blue light is part of the full light spectrum, which means we're exposed to it by the sun every day. However, nighttime exposure to that light, which is emitted at high levels by smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other LED screens, may be damaging your vision. It also suppresses production of the hormone melatonin, which throws off your body's natural sleep cues.

When your melatonin levels and sleep cycle go haywire, your risk goes up for a wide range of ailments, from depression to cancer.

Our various personal electronic devices emit blue light because it's so bright. That's the only way we can see those screens when the sun is shining. But we've started to have regular close-up nighttime exposure to this light only in the past 10 or 20 years, as a recent Gigaom story on the topic notes.

Now we're really starting to see the consequences.

Blue Light At Night1. The damage that this habit does to our eyes alone is both significant and surprising. Direct exposure to blue light can cause damage to the retina. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation warns that retinal damage caused by blue light may lead to macular degeneration, which causes the loss of central vision '-- the ability to see what's in front of you.

It should be noted however, that most studies show this effect with the light being held very close to the retina, which may not exactly replicate typical phone use.

2. There may also be a link between cataracts and blue light, though more research is needed. Gigaom cited an eye doctor who says he's starting to see 35-year-olds with eyes that are as cloudy with cataracts as 75-year-olds. Though a single account can't prove that blue light exposure causes cataracts '-- this doctor just thinks there's a link, which doesn't count as evidence '-- the idea is being investigated. Still, studies haven't concluded anything certain yet.

3. Exposure to blue light at night can ruin sleep. Bright blue light disrupts the brain's production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle. That's fine in the morning, but our brains are supposed to start producing melatonin when we are ready for sleep, and blue light interferes with that process. That's why smartphones ruin sleep, and messing with your sleep has a long list of associated health consequences that range from obesity to genetic disruption and memory problems.

4. Sleep disturbance and "light at night" have been linked to higher cancer risk, particularly for breast and prostate cancers. In addition to helping us sleep, melatonin also functions as an antioxidant. And while more research is needed, researchers have pointed to "uninterrupted darkness" as potentially protective against cancer. People whose natural melatonin production is suppressed are at a higher risk for a variety of cancers, though a causal relationship has not been found.

5. Blue light may also take a toll on mental health. Research also shows that people whose melatonin levels are suppressed and whose body clocks are thrown off by light exposure are more prone to depression.

Our Weird Relationship With Blue LightDespite the way this may sound, it doesn't mean that blue light is bad all the time. At times, it's actually beneficial to your health.

Light tells us when to wake and when to sleep. When bright blue light sends a signal to the brain to stop producing melatonin, it also primes your brain to start production of the hormone again later '-- in theory while you are getting ready for bed.

Experts say that getting an hour of sunlight in the morning helps people regulate their melatonin production and sleep cycle. They recommend getting some morning light without wearing sunglasses, so light gets through the retina and reaches the pineal gland, which is what actually controls melatonin production.

That's great in the A.M., but when nighttime screen usage convinces our brains that it's morning and they shouldn't produce melatonin, that starts to wreak havoc on our bodies.

We can't avoid smartphones, computers, and tablets all the time. But we should try to limit our exposure at night. Sometimes, wearing amber glasses that block blue light or using apps that limit the amount of blue light coming from our screens may help.

Taking breaks from screentime is a good idea too '' especially right before and in bed.

NOW WATCH: Why You Weigh Less In The Morning Than At NightPlease enable Javascript to watch this video

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 04:25

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:29

Published time: September 11, 2014 07:24Reuters / Aly Song

Dozens of tech giants, including Google, Yahoo, Apple, Facebook and Twitter, have written to the US government urging 'to bring to the floor' a bill which gives more privacy protection to their users' emails and other information stored on their servers.

The companies want Email Privacy Act to be approved by the authorities. It was introduced May 2013 and is still waiting to be passed by the US bodies.

The new bill ''would make it clear that the warrant standard of the US Constitution applies to private digital information just as it applies to physical property,'' say the companies in two letters to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The authors of the letter believe that the new bill would help the US companies who are ''seeking to innovate and compete globally.''

The letter states, ''It would eliminate outdated discrepancies between the legal process for government access to data stored locally in one's home or office and the process for the same data stored with third parties in the internet 'cloud'.''

Massive privacy breach? Dozens of celebrities' nude pics leaked online

The bill would update the 1988 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, designed to prevent unauthorized government access to private electronic communications. It was harshly criticized for failing to protect all communications and consumer records, mainly because the law is outdated.

''Updating ECPA would respond to the deeply held concerns of Americans about their privacy,'' wrote the tech giants.

Under the ECPA, a government agency may demand service providers to hand over personal consumer data stored on their servers.

The legislation also allows police authorities to made warrantless searches of people's emails and other information stored on the 'cloud' that are more than 180 days old.

The companies argue that the old bill says that ''data stored in the cloud should be afforded less protection than data stored locally."

''Removing uncertainty about the standards for government access to data stored online will encourage consumers and companies, including those outside the US, to utilize these services.''

The recent leaks of celebrities' intimate photos from the Apple iCloud may help the authors of the letter to raise the awareness of the US authorities towards information privacy.

After the scandalous leak, Apple's chief executive said the company intends to keep hackers away from clients' private data stored in iCloud's database by using mail and push message security alerts.

Now, an iCloud user will be notified if someone tries to change the password to his or her cloud, if some electronic device is connecting to the service for the first time, or when restoring iCloud data to a new device.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:32

The killer virus is spreading like wildfire, Liberia's defense minister said on Tuesday and pleaded help from the UN. Now a German Ebola expert goes one step further and comes up with a shocking assertion.

His statement might alarm many people.

But Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg told DW that he and his colleagues are losing hope for Sierra Leone and Liberia, two of the countries worst hit by the recent Ebola epidemic.

"The right time to get this epidemic under control in these countries has been missed," he said. That time was May and June. "Now it is too late."

Schmidt-Chanasit expects the virus will "burn out itself" in this part of the world.

With other words: It will more or less infect everybody and half of the population - in total about five million people - could die.

Stop the virus from spilling over to other countries

Schmidt-Chanasit knows that it is a hard thing to say.

He stresses that he doesn't want international help to stop. Quite the contrary: He demands "massive help".

For Sierra Leone and Liberia, though, he thinks "it is far from reality to bring enough help there to get a grip on the epidemic."

According to the virologist, the most important thing to do now is to prevent the virus from spreading to other countries, "and to help where it is still possible, in Nigeria and Senegal for example."

Moreover, much more money has to be put into evaluating suitable vaccines, he added.

In Liberia, the death toll has risen to over 1000.

Angry reactions

In the headquarters of Welthungerhilfe, a German non-governmental aid organization that is engaged in helping with the Ebola epidemic, Schmidt-Chanasit's statement causes much contempt.

Such declarations "are not very constructive," a spokeswoman said.

Jochen Moninger, Sierra Leone based coordinator of Welthungerhilfe, told DW, Schmidt-Chanasit's statement is "dangerous and moreover, not correct."

Moninger has been living in Sierra Leone for four years and has experienced the Ebola outbreak there from the beginning.

"The measures are beginning to show progress," he says. "The problem is solvable - the disease can be stemmed."

"If I had lost hope completely, I would pack my things and take my family out of here", Moninger adds. Instead, he and his family will stay.

In Sierra Leone, the government has ordered a quarantine of 21 days for every household in which an Ebola case occurred. Soldiers and police are guarding these houses preventing anyone who has come into contact with an Ebola patient from leaving.

According to Moninger, that is exactly the right thing to do: isolating sick people - should it be necessary, even with military force.

When Liberia's government quarantined the slum area of West Point, frustration led to protest.

Creating hopelessness doesn't help

Moninger says he doesn't know much about the situation in Liberia. But indeed, he got the impression that "there seems to be happening something that is not good at all."

He grants that Schmidt-Chanasit's statement "might point a little bit into the right direction" regarding Liberia.

Liberia has not taken on the same quarantine measures as Sierra Leone. According to a WOrld HEalth Organization (WHO) report, Ebola-infected people are crisscrossing the capital in shared taxis, looking for a treatment place and returning home after finding none. This way the virus spreads.

"Distributing hopelessness", though, Moninger said, "is dangerous", adding that there are many human lives at risk, and "statements like these make the situation even worse".

Disastrous, but not without hope

The WHO in Geneva refuses to comment on Schmidt-Chanasit's statement.

WHO spokeswoman Fad(C)la Chaib, though, says that there is "of course" still hope for both countries.

"We can bring the situation under control in 6 to 9 months," she told DW.

When protesting against government's decision to quarantine West Point, residents have been injured.

She admits, though, that the situation especially in Liberia is "very intense".

The government is completely outstripped and as soon as a new Ebola treatment center has opened, it is overflowed by patients, she says, adding that Liberia has the highest number of cases and deaths in West Africa with a 60 percent case-fatality rate.

The situation is getting worse after 80 health workers, doctors and nurses, have died after contracting the disease.

The WHO even expects thousands of new cases of Ebola in Liberia over the next few weeks.

Winning together

Not only neighboring countries but also Europe and the US will have to support the fight against the epidemic, WHO's Chaib demands.

Then it might be possible to win this fight.

The key to getting a grip on the epidemic is to stop the transmission of Ebola, especially in healthcare workers, she says.

Creating Ebola centers in the communities themselves will stop Ebola patients and their family members moving around and infecting other people.

"We will do everything we can to stop this Ebola outbreak. We will not let down West Africa."

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:27

Bloomberg

A black market for an Ebola treatment derived from the blood of survivors is emerging in the West African countries experiencing the worst outbreak of the virus on record, the World Health Organization said.

The United Nations health agency will work with governments to stamp out the illicit trade in convalescent serum, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters today in Geneva, where the organization is based. There is a danger that such serums could contain other infections and wouldn't be administered properly, Chan said.

The WHO is encouraging the use of properly obtained serum to treat current patients and said last week it should be a priority. A third U.S. missionary worker who was infected with Ebola in Liberia and flown to the U.S. for medical care was treated with blood transfusions from another American who recovered from the virus last month. Doctors hope the virus-fighting antibodies in the blood help the 51-year-old physician, Rick Sacra.

Read more

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Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:32

FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $99 IN THE CONTINENTAL US

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Tell the world that racism is not over every time you pull this tee over your head to wear! Take a stand and stand out from the crowd.

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Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:28

''I do own that shirt. It's an issue that affects so many people in my life '-- a lot of my close friends. I just want them all to be happy. It would make me so happy to see them able to live their lives and do what they want to do.'' -Zac Efron on his own FCKH8 ''Dudes Marry Dudes, Get Over It'' T-shirt in support of marriage equality, Advocate Interview, September 10, 2012

''Fucking genius!''-Dan Savage's Twitter reaction to FCKH8's ''It Doesn't Get Better for Homophobes'' video

''Where did you get that shirt? I love it!''-Glee's Jane Lynch on seeing the ''Some Chicks Marry Chicks, Get Over It'' tee

FCKH8.com is a for-profit T-shirt company with an activist heart and a passionate social change mission: arming thousands of people with pro-LGBT equality, anti-racism and anti-sexism T-shirts that act as ''mini-billboards'' for change. Started in 2010 with comedic viral videos that captured millions of views on YouTube, FCKH8.com has shipped almost 200,000 equality tees, tanks and hoodies to supporters in over 100 countries. T-shirts emblazoned with bold messages like ''Some Chicks Marry Chicks, Get Over It,'' ''Straight Against Hate,'' and ''Legalize Love'' have been publicly talked about by celebrities including Jane Lynch, Adam Lambert, Perez Hilton, and Zac Efron - who's raved about his own ''Some Dudes Marry Dudes, Get Over It'' shirt in the press. Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi even have their own pink ''Some Chicks Marry Chicks, Get Over It'' buttons. With over 305,000 followers on Facebook and 43,000 on Twitter, FCKH8.com has given over $250,000 to the equality cause through directly funded projects and donations to LGBT charities. In 2014 FCKH8.com expanded it's anti-hate message with campaigns and tees focused on fighting sexism and racism and supporting those important causes. In a effort to get tees to supporters even faster, the FCKH8.com brand recently became owned and managed by Synergy Media's team of passionate people with a vision to make an even bigger positive impact with the activist brand. FCKH8!

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:26

Why we're taking part in the ''Internet Slowdown''by Lauren Hockenson on September 10, 2014

Why we're taking part in the ''Internet Slowdown''by Lauren Hockenson on September 10, 2014

Today, BitTorrent stands alongside companies like Etsy, Netflix, Reddit and a host of others to participate in Internet Slowdown day '-- a visual representation of what the Internet would look like if the FCC abandons Net Neutrality in favor of a prioritized ''pay-for-play'' system.

We stand by these principles in governing the Net:

- No blocking of traffic.- No discrimination of traffic.- No Paid Priority, what's known as the Internet ''Fast Lane.''

We've all been frustrated by the spinning wheel that indicates a webpage or application is taking too long to load. But, if the FCC decides to force some companies to pay a premium to use bandwith, then all of us will be seeing it a lot more. Your favorite free and premium services risk throttled networks, slow load times and worse.

But we can't do it alone: this is where you can help us. Get involved now and stand alongside us by changing your social avatars with this package at Battle For The Net and tweeting with #InternetSlowdown. You can also contact the FCC or your local congressperson to comment about the issue, easily done through our Internet Better website.

Today is the last day to make your voice heard before the comments close. You can be a part of a record-breaking cause, as consumer comments to the FCC have surpassed those from Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime scandal.

We urge everyone to take action today, before that load wheel becomes the new normal.

Related Posts:

Pay us for the Slow Lane; or a Call for True Net Neutrality

by Eric Klinker on September 11, 2014

Taking a Stand for Net Neutrality on Internet Slowdown Day, September 10

by Eric Klinker on September 4, 2014

The Future of the Internet Belongs to Everyone

by Eric Klinker on June 10, 2014

Hollywood Needs Net Neutrality Too

by Matt Mason on May 14, 2014

Net Neutrality: We Need a Better Deal

by Eric Klinker on April 24, 2014

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:03

Secure remote control for conventional and virtual desktops

IBM and Apple have forged a pact to sell software to enterprises: Apple will handle support and IBM will actually sell the iPads and iPhones, which will be loaded with Big Blue's ported apps. Oh yes.

The "landmark partnership" was announced by the two companies on Tuesday, and will see each firm help the other make money from a business area it has no particular affinity for.

IBM, for instance, will "sell iPhones and iPads" loaded with any of 100 industry-specific software products codeveloped by IBM and Apple, while Apple will handle phone support for the products. Inevitability, on-site support will be handled by IBM.

As part of this, IBM will port about 150 of its applications to iOS. This software should be available starting this autumn, the New York-headquartered giant added.

This lets IBM sell handheld computers without having to develop them, which we imagine is what the company wanted given its moves to divest itself of its hardware businesses '' like its selloff of ThinkPad and, more recently, servers to Lenovo.

Apple, meanwhile, will get a load more enterprise software on its various mobile devices without having to develop the applications themselves.

"We are delighted to be teaming with Apple, whose innovations have transformed our lives in ways we take for granted, but can't imagine living without. Our alliance will bring the same kind of transformation to the way people work, industries operate and companies perform," said IBM chief Ginni Rommetty in a canned quote.

IBM will also build a variety of "cloud services optimized for iOS, including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration", which will allow Apple to avoid extending its own iCloud service into a new and unfamiliar area. These cloud services will be tied together via the "IBM MobileFirst Platform for iOS."

The Big Finger ... Apple cofounder Steve Jobs

"For the first time ever we're putting IBM's renowned big data analytics at iOS users' fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity for Apple," said Apple chief executive Tim Cook in a statement. "This is a radical step for enterprise and something that only Apple and IBM can deliver." Tim Cook's predecessor, Steve Jobs, was no fan of IBM, as the above snap shows.

Speaking of IBM's "renowned" tech, the one-time OS/2 co-developer said in a press release that it had "secured more than 4,300 patents in mobile, social and security, that have been incorporated into IBM MobileFirst solutions that enable enterprise clients to radically streamline and accelerate mobile adoption, help organizations engage more people and capture new markets."

Though we're sure champagne corks will be popping at the respective HQs of IBM and Apple tonight, we reckon there'll be a distinctly different feeling at Microsoft and Google, which have both been working to cram their devices and software into enterprises.

As for fallen phone-maker BlackBerry, once the emperor of corporate mobile computing, well, the postal address of its head office is available here in case any Reg readers want to send some flowers or bottles of hard liquor over. ®

Security for virtualized datacentres

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:24

RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) will release its financial results Thursday morning, and Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter sees a big, big miss, projecting a $0.66/share loss vs. Street consensus for a $0.36 loss, on sales of $762M vs. $893M consensus.The firm says brick and mortar electronics retailers such as RSH and Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) will see persistent structural decline as internet sales continue to take share; it sees continuing evidence of traffic deterioration and lower productivity for BBY's retail foot print, while RSH has less financial flexibility to invest in price competitiveness.Believing bankruptcy is imminent, Pachter lowers his price target for RSH to zero.Share this with a colleague

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 02:36

By Crayton Harrison and Tim HigginsSeptember 11, 2014 6:59 PM EDTPhotographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., left, and the band U2 during a product announcement at Flint Center in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9, 2014.

U2, one of the most popular rock bands in the world, gave a new album for free to half a billion users of Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s iTunes software.

Not cool, some recipients said.

''Who is U2? And why do their songs keep popping up in my iPhone?'' a Twitter user named Natalie said yesterday in one of a number of tweets compiled on Storify. ''I've never bought their music.''

''Idk who put U2 on my iTunes but that is the worst prank imaginable,'' tweeted another, Jessica Williams, using the abbreviation for ''I don't know.''

The album giveaway was announced two days ago following Apple's unveiling of new iPhones and a wearable device called Apple Watch. U2's ''Songs of Innocence'' album, featuring 11 songs, is free to active iTunes account holders and those who sign up within five weeks, the company said then. The album began appearing in users' libraries within a day or so after it was announced.

Depending on a user's settings, ''Songs of Innocence'' could automatically download to some Apple devices, taking up valuable space. For others, the album just appeared as available for download among a list of other records users had bought through iTunes.

The mass distribution particularly irked youngsters who were unfamiliar with U2, a band formed in 1976 whose last album, ''No Line on the Horizon,'' came out five years ago.

''Nothing pisses off the audience more than pushing something they don't want and didn't ask for to their devices,'' Bob Lefsetz, author of a music industry blog, wrote yesterday. ''Even if you don't download the album, it's sitting there in your purchases, pissing you off.''

Critics' OpinionsIs the music that bad? Depends on your perspective. Critic David Fricke of Rolling Stone gave it five stars, calling it ''11 tracks of straightforward rapture about the life-saving joys of music.'' Stereogum's Tom Breihan was less enthralled, calling it ''a muddled, inert, tired mess of an album.''

A spokeswoman for U2 didn't immediately respond for comment outside of normal business hours in London. Tom Neumayr, an Apple spokesman, declined to comment.

Dennis Dennehy, a spokesman for Interscope Geffen A&M, also declined to comment. On U2's website, lead singer Bono posted a message earlier this week about the distribution of the new album, saying it was part of the band's DNA ''to get our music to as many people as possible.''

'Junk Mail'''People who haven't heard our music, or weren't remotely interested, might play us for the first time because we're in their library,'' Bono wrote. ''And for the people out there who have no interest in checking us out, look at it this way... the blood, sweat and tears of some Irish guys are in your junk mail.''

While some complained online about the free album, others praised it.

''Thanks for the #gift what an awesome album, it's on repeat in my car!!'' said a Twitter user named Jason Steenkamp.

Users who had auto-download turned on can delete the unwanted album if they want. It will remain among a list of purchased items, meaning it can be re-downloaded later.

Apple and U2 have a long history together, going back to the opening of the iTunes store in 2003.

''U2 has been an important part of Apple's history in music and we're thrilled to make 'Songs of Innocence' the largest album release ever,'' Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet software and services, said in a statement this week. ''We get to share our love of music today by gifting this great new album to over half a billion iTunes customers around the world.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Crayton Harrison in New York at tharrison5@bloomberg.net; Tim Higgins in San Francisco at thiggins21@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sarah Rabil at srabil@bloomberg.net Crayton Harrison, Stephen West

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:30

David Cameron fought tooth and nail to stop Jean-Claude Juncker becoming president of the European Commission but the former Luxembourg prime minister could end up being the biggest boon to the City of London for a generation. Not only has Juncker embraced the idea of creating a ''capital markets union'', he has now proposed giving Jonathan Hill, the incoming British Commissioner, the job of making it a reality.

The European Union suffers from underdeveloped capital markets. Everything, from shares and company bonds to venture capital and securitisation (where bank loans are packaged up and sold on the market), is a fraction of the size of its American equivalent. The goal of capital markets union is to build up these sources of finance so that they can play a bigger role in funding jobs and growth. If that is achieved, the City '' the home to the bulk of Europe's capital markets '' will enjoy a boost equivalent to that delivered by the Big Bang deregulation launched by Margaret Thatcher in 1986. More jobs, more wealth and more tax revenue will flow to the UK. At present, the term ''capital markets union'' is a slogan searching for policy proposals. That's why Hill's role is so important. He can fill in the blanks, steering capital markets union in a free-market direction.

It might seem odd that Europe is embracing capital markets. Don't eurocrats want to snuff out our financial industry with their financial transaction tax and ban on big bonuses for bankers?

Not quite. Yes, there is an anti-market streak across the Channel but opinion is shifting. Policymakers understand that Europe's weak and bloated banking system is a liability. It helped cause the euro crisis and is now a drag on recovery. If banks aren't going to be able to fund jobs and growth on their own, capital markets are the only alternative.

What's more, the European Central Bank has become a keen advocate of markets as it tries to revive the eurozone economy. It is reluctant to follow the Bank of England and buy government debt. Instead, it would prefer to ape the US Federal Reserve and purchase market instruments. The snag is there isn't much to buy. That's why it is working with the Bank of England to revive the securitisation market. So, as Hill takes up his new post, he will be pushing on a half-open door. His aim should be to fling it wide open by explaining why markets will be so valuable for all the EU. Then he needs to set out an action plan for delivering capital markets union by the end of the new Commission's term in office in 2019.

A good model is what Arthur Cockfield did when he set 1992 as the date for creating the single market when he was Britain's Commissioner.

Three overarching principles should guide this action plan. First, it should free up markets '' for example, by giving investment firms a passport to operate across the EU if they want to lend to business.

Second, it should revise some of the heavy-handed rules that have been agreed or proposed in recent years. A good candidate is the financial transaction tax, which would gum up markets.

Finally, it should respect the principle that decisions should only be taken in Brussels when that is demonstrably better than leaving them to national capitals. So there's no need for a new EU-wide body to supervise markets.

Capital markets union could be a great prize for Britain '' albeit only one we'll get to enjoy if we stay in the EU.

Hugo Dixon is the author of The In/Out Question: Why Britain should stay in the EU and fight to make it better

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 06:11

Approaching Rapid Internationalization of Chinese Currency

By JC Collins

''There are signs lately of growing disaffection with the United States dollar.'' '' Yves-Andre Istel, former vice chairman of Rothschild Inc.

Sometimes the most obvious truths are hidden right in front of our eyes. Our inability to not see or acknowledge these realities often leads to sudden jarring moments of realization which can't be ignored. These rare moments leave us feeling shocked and betrayed but with no one to blame, so the human socioeconomic collective roams the wasted lands of the hinder mind in search of new reference points.

We are presently on a trajectory course heading directly for one of these historical moments. It can even be argued that much of what is happening in the world today, and has been over the last few years, is the quest for new reference points, not just by the individual, but also the state machinery of the industrialized west.

Like all trajectories there is a landing and the decent has begun. But it will not be a descent into madness and mayhem, but a solid landing in the midst of confused winds. Like every single reserve currency before it, the United States dollar is caught in the swirling vacuum of monetary deficiencies and is desperately seeking escape. But in escape they are attempting to secure resources and global opportunities for their lineage based wealth.

What is clear from all public statements and official publications is that the United States no longer wishes to hold the world's primary reserve currency, as it has been both a blessing and a curse. As the now infamous quote by Kyle Bass about killing the dollar has been heard by all interested parties, and some time has passed us by, it can be determined that the dollar he was referring to was the reserve dollar and not the American currency itself.

At the same time China has made it absolutely clear that they have no interest in making the renminbi the international reserve currency. They have observed in great detail the path that primary reserve currencies take and do not wish to see their once again burgeoning power in the world wane, as it did in the face of western industrialization.

Like currencies are now pegged to the value of the US dollar, other currencies will soon be pegged to the value of the renminbi, but neither currency will be the primary reserve currency by which international trade is balanced. What we are heading towards is the expansion of the Special Drawing Right basket of the International Monetary Fund.

The basket currently is valued on four reserve currencies, being the US dollar, Japanese yen, British sterling, and the Euro. Every five years the basket is adjusted and we are now entering the time period when this could happen. Though China doesn't want the yuan to be the primary reserve currency of the world, they do wish to see it internationalized and become one of the reserve currencies which make up the SDR basket valuation.

With the renminbi added to the SDR basket there will be a greater sense of stability in the international monetary system. The events of the last few years are much better understood in this manner.

The much discussed BRICS Development Bank and Contingency Reserve Fund have more to do with strengthening the renminbi for inclusion into the SDR basket and less to do with any dreamed up attempts at overthrowing the dollar. Those who promote the storyline of a BRICS overthrow of the US dollar are directly proven wrong by the public announcements and publications of the BRICS countries and institutions themselves.

Other means by which the renminbi will be strengthened before its inclusion into the SDR basket is found in the upcoming international offering of yuan denominated gold from the Shanghai Gold Exchange. This will begin on September 26th and will work parallel with China's attempts at diversifying its assets by importing large amounts of gold from the west, as well as balancing sovereign debts from the past.

Indirectly, those promoting baseless theories of the eastern overthrow of the dollar are proven faulty in their analysis by the fact that foreign reserves of US dollars continue to increase and gold is still flat at best, leading to the solid conclusion that the economic banking interests in the world are continuing to support the dollar system in order to facilitate the transition to the multilateral system and inclusion of the renminbi into the SDR basket.

How else would you explain the increasing expansion of the renminbi in the foreign currency reserves of central banks around the world? These numbers are hardly reported and are not required to be, even though the currency has not been internationalized. In the last year over 50 central banks have been actively increasing their holdings of renminbi, both onshore and offshore. These central banks are located in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe.

In essence, the internationalization of the Chinese currency is already taking place as shown in the vast amount of currency swap agreements and trading hubs being set up around the world. There is a frantic pace to this defacto internationalization, such as the two Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario working together to quickly implement the trading hub here in Canada.

Whether the renminbi has been given official reserve status or not matters little when the world has already embraced the currency. In the post Everything Will Be SDR Compliant, it is detailed how the BRICS countries still support the mandates of reforming the international system through the IMF.

In other official publications it has been made clear by all sides, including the BRICS countries and the US Treasury, that support exists for this restructuring of the global system, not just for the IMF, but also for the United Nations and the G20.

Here is another recent publication from the Centre for International Governance Innovation, or CIGI, titled China's Goal in the G20. It further supports everything I've been stating here since January.

The world is clamoring for an alternative to the dollar as the primary reserve currency. This does not mean the American currency will collapse. In fact, the rest of the world is ensuring that it doesn't as they hold large amounts of the asset in their foreign reserve accounts.

And in turn central banks around the world are dramatically increasing their foreign holdings of the Chinese asset, all in preparation of balancing the global system when the renminbi is ultimately included in the SDR basket valuation. This one event will change the world we live. It is just sad that though most will know and sense that something has happened, they will be unable to put their finger on exactly what that change is. Those in the western world will feel less exceptional and those in the east will feel empowered and encouraged for future growth.

But yet there is hope for the west as detailed in the post The New Industrialization of America.

In previous posts I've discussed the usage of substitution accounts where debts between the US dollar and the renminbi can be quietly balanced without disrupting the international economy. Somewhere within the hidden chambers of these substitution accounts lay the real reason for the delay on the 2010 Governance and Quota Reforms for the IMF.

But once the renminbi is included into the SDR basket, the world will be then left to face the large amount of sovereign debt which will require consolidation and restructuring through the issuance of SDR denominated bonds. Though there are proxy wars for the control of resources taking place around the world, all sides are working silently and closely together on balancing the substitution accounts and getting the renminbi prepared for its rise to one of five reserve currencies included in the SDR basket. Then the real work begins.

This year is far from over when it comes to the economic transition which is taking place. We need to keep our eyes open and observe the truths as they unfold. '' JC

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:08

The First Lady will be making a candid announcement in next month's issue of 'OUT' magazine; The cover of which Mrs. Obama will also adorn.

During an interview with NBC, Michelle reluctantly opened up about the piece saying, ''I cannot get into specifics, but this will be a giant step for the LGBTQ community. It's going to transform people's perspectives around the world, primarily where the rights of transgendered individuals are concerned.''

Michelle Obama's proclamations have left many speculating what the bombshell could be.

Immediately after being sworn into office, Mr. and Mrs. Obama have faced allegations that bring their sexuality into question. Considering the context under which Michelle plans to make her upcoming announcement, it easily lends to the belief that she will be coming out as a transgendered woman.

Several different sources have postulated that Michelle Obama was, in fact, born a man. In-depth studies of Michelle's body structure, and comparisons with the average female's physique show several discrepancies which provide convincing arguments for Mrs. Obama's male gender. Inquiries involving these rampant speculations have largely been evaded by the President and the First Lady, as well as White House officials. Nevertheless, the rumors continue to persist.

Several noteworthy trans-gender activists have expressed their support upon learning of Michelle Obama's looming broadcast. Erza Lightfoot, who is the head editor for the long running Los Angeles publication 'Transgender Times', had the following to add when she was informed of Michelle's statement. ''This would be a groundbreaking revelation. To have the first openly trans-gender First Lady? This is just what the trans community needs to revolutionize the way in which trans-gendered individuals are perceived by the public at large.''

She ended with, ''We thought we had been graced by the first African American presidential family; It is thrilling to think we could be on the precipice of our nation witnessing an African American, Trans, and gay parental unit in the Oval Office. There are a lot of issues in our country today, but having such a progressive First Family is not one of them.''

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:41

Taking on the man at Chipotle, hoo boy.

Grubstreet reports on a Chipotle location near Penn State University closing for a day, after employees left behind an epic f*ck-off kind of note. The note reads in part, ''Want to know why we're closed? Ask our corporate offices why their employees are forced to work in borderline sweatshop conditions. Almost the entire management and crew have resigned. People > profits.''

The former managers told student newspaper Onward State that minimal staff, about six to eight employees, were scheduled onto shifts that needed at least 13 to 14 people on staff. Said the manager to Onward State, ''We just felt neglected '... I'm not trying to take down the Chipotle corporation, I just want to see people treated better. We're not trying to start a strike or anything like that.'' Chipotle corporate responded to the newspaper with a statement, saying only ''a few employees'' quit, ''locking out a majority of others who are enthusiastic to return to work.'' Onward State noted the location was back up and running last night.

It's tricky to know what's actually going on here; Chipotle is famously highlighted as one of the fast-food chains to pay their employees a living wage. From Business Insider last year:

Chipotle is renowned for quickly moving workers from starting pay levels into higher paying management jobs. Starting pay for ''crew,'' the people who make the burritos, averages about $10.50 an hour ($21,000 a year) with benefits, according to some reports; $8.50 an hour by others. The company says 98% of its managers, some of whom earn six-digits, start as crew. It's not unheard of to find a 20-something who was on the line five years ago to be working as a Chipotle ''restaurateur,'' a position with an average annual pay of about $99,000.

Those numbers conflict a bit with the anonymous salaries posted on Glassdoor, and a Reddit AMA all about Chipotle (making us hungry more than anything). When a Redditor asked whether the $99,000 pay range was actually true, one Chipotle employee replied:

Sort of true. There are a lot of different types of managers. Kitchen managers, service managers, apprentice, GM, Restauranteur. Apprentice and up are salaried, others are hourly. It might say the Apprentice makes something like 60k, GM 80k, Restauranteur 100k. But honestly they include all these arbitrary figures in those numbers, certain types of insurance coverage that nobody really cares about, they'll pay for certain classes that you're required, by Chipotle, to take. All of that gets factored in, the reality is a GM may be advertised as an $80k position, but really they make about $35k a year in take-home funds.

And of course, none of this actually relates to working conditions at Chipotle. Still, with so much going on worldwide with global fast food worker strikes, not even Chipotle can keep out of the spotlight for much longer.

[Grubstreet, Onward State, Business Insider, Glassdoor, Reddit]

RELATED:Taco Bell Officially Launches Off-Menu Chipotle Mashup 'The Quesarito'Chipotle Prints Real Literature on Cups and Bags to Alleviate Boredom, Make You A Better PersonUncharacteristically Mad Frank Ocean Tells Chipotle to 'F*CK OFF' via $212,500 Check

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:29

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:22

Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) has issued this statement on the Al Jazeera documentary on the 787:

We have not been afforded the opportunity to view the full program, but the promotional trailer and published media reviews suggest that what has been produced is as biased a production as we have seen in some time. It is unfortunate that the producers of this television program appear to have fallen into the trap of distorting facts, relying on claims rejected by courts of law, breathlessly rehashing as ''news'' stories that have been covered exhaustively in the past and relying on anonymous sources who appear intent only on harming The Boeing Company.

When first contacted by the producers, we accommodated them in order for them to produce a fair and objective report including facilitating factory access, interviews and providing full and open responses to their questions. The 787 is an outstanding airplane delivering value to our customers, but we have also talked candidly in public about its challenging development process. There are no tougher critics about our early performance than Boeing. Unfortunately, the reporting team appears to have chosen to take advantage of our trust and openness and abused their position from the outset by deliberately misrepresenting the purpose, objective and scope of their planned coverage.

This specious production appears to have ignored the factual information provided by Boeing and instead based the majority of its reporting on unnamed sources pursuing their own agendas and a disgruntled former employee engaged in a legal dispute with Boeing. In one instance, the producers resorted to ambush tactics normally seen only in tabloid-style TV news. The anonymous sources the TV program depends on are clearly working with those who seek to harm Boeing and its workers. They appear to have no real interest in truth, safety or better informing the public.

Even on-the-record sources seem to have changed their stories for the producers. For example, former Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) President Cynthia Cole said this about the 787's first flight in 2009: ''Today's flight is a testament to the skill, hard work and diligence Boeing employees put in to get this airplane ready to fly,'' SPEEA President Cynthia Cole said in a news release. ''Boeing returned to engineering, and that's what made today possible and successful.'' Now, she states in the documentary trailer that Boeing ''shortchanged the engineering process.''

Instead of an objective view of the 787's development, viewers and our employees will see a television program that is neither balanced nor accurate in its portrayal of the airplane, our employees, or our suppliers. This program and those involved with it do a disservice to the hard-working men and women of Boeing and our supplier partners who designed and build the 787.

Furthermore, the program presents a false impression of Boeing South Carolina and the quality of work performed there. Airplanes, whether delivered from South Carolina or Washington, meet the highest safety and quality standards that are verified through robust test, verification and inspection processes. Our data of the current 787 fleet in service show parity in the quality and performance of airplanes manufactured in both locations.

Video: The Al Jazeera documentary on the Boeing 787:

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:20

(C) AFP / Mohamed El-Shahed | US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on September 13, 2014 in Cairo

Speaking in the capital Cairo, the US Secretary of State said that ''as an intellectual and cultural capital to the Muslim world,'' Egypt has a ''critical role'' to play in denouncing the extremist group's harsh ideology.

The United States wants Egypt to use its leading Islamic authority Al-Azhar, a thousand-year-old seat of religious learning, to send a message of moderation across the Middle East to counter Islamic State's extremist ideology.

Though Egypt is unlikely to send troops to battle the Islamic State group it could provide logistical and intelligence support to the coalition, while its experience with fighting terrorism within its own borders could prove valuable.

Cairo's involvement in the coalition may also help to soothe its relations with Washington, after the United States suspended '''' then restored '''' military aid when the army ousted elected Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.

Morsi's successor, the former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is fighting Islamist militants in the restive Sinai Peninsula who have expressed support for the Islamic State.

"Egypt is on the frontline of the fight against terrorism, particularly when it comes to fighting extremist groups in Sinai," Kerry told a news conference following talks with Sisi.

Egypt sees 'ties of cooperation' between terrorist groups

Speaking alongside Kerry, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said ties existed between Islamic State and other militants in the region and that global action was needed to counter the threat.

''Ultimately this extremist ideology is shared by all terrorist groups. We detect ties of cooperation between them and see a danger as it crosses borders,'' said Shukri.

''We believe that rejecting terrorism is a collective responsibility of all members of the international community. There should be definite steps to achieve this target.''

Egypt's call for international action could bolster Kerry's bid to gather support for President Barack Obama's plan to strike both sides of the Syrian-Iraqi frontier to defeat Islamic State Sunni fighters.

Kerry won backing on Thursday for a ''coordinated military campaign'' against Islamic State from 10 Arab countries '''' Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and six Gulf states including rich rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar '''' while France and Britain have also offered varying degrees of support.

But it is unclear what role individual nations will play.

Obama's plan to fight Islamic State simultaneously in Iraq and Syria thrusts the United States directly into the midst of two different wars, in which nearly every country in the region has a stake, alliances have shifted and strategy is dominated by Islam's 1,300-year-old rift between Sunnis and Shiites.

Islamic State is made up of Sunni militants, who are fighting a Shiite-led government in Iraq and a government in Syria led by members of a Shiite offshoot sect.

Turkey reluctant

Kerry's visit to Cairo followed a trip to Turkey Friday, a country that could also play a key role in any military operation against extremists in the region.

However, Turkey, which has the second-largest armed forces in the NATO military alliance after the United States and hosts a major US Air Force base at Incirlik in its south, has so far conspicuously avoided committing to any military campaign.

The country has backed mainly Sunni rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Although it is alarmed by Islamic State's rise, Turkey is wary about any military action that might weaken Assad's foes, and is concerned about strengthening Kurds in Iraq and Syria.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil told Reuters some Arab states at talks in Jeddah on Thursday had proposed expanding the campaign to fight other Islamist groups besides Islamic State, a move Turkey would also probably oppose.

Egypt would welcome any move that would further isolate the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that the army removed from power last year.

Egyptian authorities have cracked down on the Brotherhood, killing hundreds of members and jailing thousands of others. Egypt has declared the Brotherhood a terrorist group.

Qatar has asked seven senior figures from Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to leave the country, the movement said on Saturday, following months of pressure on the Gulf Arab state from its neighbours to stop backing the Islamists.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, REUTERS)

Date created : 2014-09-13

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:12

patrick.goodenoughPatrick covered government and politics in South Africa and the Middle East before joining CNSNews.com in 1999. Since then he has launched foreign bureaus for CNSNews.com in Jerusalem, London and the Pacific Rim. From October 2006 to July 2007, Patrick served as Managing Editor at the organization's world headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Now back in the Pacific Rim, as International Editor he reports on politics, international relations, security, terrorism, ethics and religion, and oversees reporting by CNSNews.com's roster of international stringers.

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Sun, 14 Sep 2014 04:55

MRC TV is an online platform for people to share and view videos, articles and opinions on topics that are important to them '-- from news to political issues and rip-roaring humor.

MRC TV is brought to you by the Media Research Center, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit research and education organization. The MRC is located at: 1900 Campus Commons Drive, Reston, VA 20194. For information about the MRC, please visit www.MRC.org.

Copyright (C) 2014, Media Research Center. All Rights Reserved.

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:57

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:21

Slain journalist James Foley's mom says federal officials threatened the Foley family with criminal charges if they raised money to pay ransom to free him. The "devastating" message didn't surprise her, she told ABC News, but the way it was delivered shocked her.

''I was surprised there was so little compassion,'' Diane Foley told ABC News today of the three separate warnings she said U.S. officials gave the family about the illegality of paying ransom to the terror group ISIS. ''It just made me realize that these people talking to us had no idea what it was like to be the family of someone abducted'... I'm sure [the U.S. official] didn't mean it the way he said it, but we were between a rock and a hard place. We were told we could do nothing'... meanwhile our son was being beaten and tortured every day.''

Earlier this week five current and former officials with direct knowledge of the Foley case confirmed the alleged threats were made.

"It was an utterly idiotic thing to do that came across as if [the U.S. official] had the compassion of an anvil," said a former official who has advised the family.

CNN has a related story here.

[PHOTO: 2012 photo posted on freejamesfoley.org showing James Foley, covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria.]

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:50

In formally unveiling his plans to "degrade and ultimately destroy" ISIS forces in the Middle East during his nationally televised speech Wednesday night, President Obama said nothing about what his long-term strategy would cost in terms of increased spending on defense, anti-terrorist activities, enhanced homeland security measures, assistance and training for friendly rebel forces in Syria and the many other related expenses.

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President Barack Obama delivers a prime time address from the Cross Hall of the White House on September 10, 2014 in Washington.

While the initial cost of expanding U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in northern Iraq to include forays into parts of neighboring Syria can easily be absorbed by the Defense Department's Overseas Contingency Operations, some lawmakers and policy experts anticipate renewed pressure to eliminate automatic across the board spending cuts in the Defense Department budget that are scheduled to resume next year.

Read MoreRepublicans need to support Obama's ISIS plan

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said on Thursday that he and many other Republicans are skeptical that Obama's proposal will be enough to defeat the brutal jihadist terrorist organization and train and equip the Free Syrian Army rebel forces in Syria. "A lot of our members don't feel like the campaign outlined last night will accomplish the mission the president says '' and that is to destroy ISIS," Boehner told reporters. "And so frankly a lot of our members think a lot more needs to be done than what was laid out last night."

How deeply the U.S. dives into the crisis bears directly on the cost. Some experts have estimated that extending the air war against ISIS into Syria could cost between $10 and $15 billion per year '' pocket change at the Pentagon. But many, like Boehner, doubt the president's goals can be accomplished on the cheap.

For months leading up to Obama's announcement last night Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has sought to rally members of Congress to terminate the roughly $500 billion of long term defense cuts '' part of what was known as the sequester '' that were mandated under the Budget Control Act of 2011. The Pentagon absorbed about $37 billion of those cuts last year, before Congress and the administration negotiated a two-year budget deal for fiscal 2014 and 2015 that would temporarily block the sequester.

Read MoreObama: Will conduct a 'systematic campaign' of airstrikes, will target Syria as well

But there will be a new round of much tougher automatic spending cuts beginning late next year unless Congress steps in and cancels them altogether. "If sequestration continues '-- and it is the law of the land and it will come back in 2016 unless the Congress changes it'... it will affect everything we do and every decision we make," Hagel said last July. "I'm hopeful that the Congress will do something about it."

An analysis released by the Defense Department April 15 concluded that sequester level budgets would result in continued force-level cuts across the military services '' including a reduction of 420,000 active duty soldiers in the Army, a drop of 175,000 active duty Marine Corps personnel, the elimination of an entire fleet of KC-10 tankers in the Air Force as well as a reduced inventory of unmanned aerial vehicles and the mothballing of six destroyers and the retirement of an aircraft carrier in the Navy.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a member of the House Budget Committee, told CNN last night that Congress must give serious thought to permanently eliminating the sequester in the face of the increasingly dangerous situation in the Middle East.

Read MoreWhat's in a name? A lot, with the name 'Isis'

"As a result of sequestration and the raiding of military readiness accounts, the military has suffered a series of devastating cuts that compromise their safety, readiness and ability to meet the ever present threats to our national security," Blackburn said in a statement Thursday. " It is immoral to ask our military servicemen and women to suit up and ship out without the proper resources, training and funds they need."

Bill Hoagland, a former Republican Senate budget and policy expert, said today, "I think it's clear that the more the war drums beat, the more pressure that puts on the defense budget cap." Steve Bell, another former Senate budget expert and a colleague of Hoagland's at the Bipartisan Policy Center, agrees that "there will be an effort to change the current spending caps."

'--By Eric Pianin and Rob Garver, The Fiscal Times

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 03:41

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Sign UpMENDOCINO COUNTY (KPIX 5) '-- There's been some mysterious activity in the skies over Mendocino County lately. Folks who live there want to know: Who are the armed men dropping out of helicopters to chop down their marijuana grows?

They dress in combat camouflage, some of them hide their faces. This summer, a group of men in Mendocino County loaded into helicopters and flew missions to eradicate marijuana. They're not police officers. They work for a security company called Lear Asset Management.

According to their promotional poster, the group works with law enforcement .That's why Susan Schindler suspected the posse, when her medical marijuana garden was hit last month.

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''They took hand saws and just cut the trunks,'' Schindler said.

Schindler said the armed men in camouflage dropped into her garden from an unmarked helicopter and refused to identify themselves. ''There was no paperwork, no copies of any warrants they didn't leave any inventory of what they took,'' she said.

She told KPIX 5 that she is following all the county regulations: 25 plants per parcel, the legal limit in Mendocino County. And she said the strain of cannabis she grows has no street value: It really is medicinal.

''The irony is that this whole garden that was destroyed was not a garden that would get you high,'' Schindler said.

Lear Asset Management's president Paul Trouette turned down KPIX 5's request for an interview, but said Lear had nothing to do with the raid on Susan's garden.

So we asked Mendocino County's sheriff, Tom Allman. ''The sheriff's department doesn't hire any private security to go out and do our job,'' he said.

Allman said his deputies have conducted some recent raids, including several in Susan's area on the day she was hit. But he says his guys wear badges and clearly identify themselves.

''So are they seeing things?'' We asked him. ''Or is it just the fact that they are mistaken?''

''I think there are some people who may become paranoid this time of year,'' he said.

But Schindler has another theory: Whoever is behind it, she believes she's an easy target. ''I think they tried to find places where they saw nobody, I think they tried to find places where they would not be confronted with guns.''

So it's still unclear who exactly is raiding the pot farms. The security company, Lear, insists they are only staying on the private property that hires them. And that's perfectly legal.

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:52

The ice bucket challenge has been the internet phenomenon of the summer - raising tens of millions of pounds for charity and increasing awareness of motor neurone disease around the world.

But in figures shown to BBC Breakfast, only one in ten people who did it, actually donated.

John Maguire reports.

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:44

Conservative filmmaker's latest provocation shows lax security on America's northern borderJames O'Keefe filmed a play-acting black-clad jihadi with a British accent carrying fake ricin and pretend Ebola across Lake Erie and into ClevelandHe managed to disembark, walk to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame carrying a duffel bag, and enter the building without anyone challenging himUK citizens can enter Canada without a visa; James Foley's executioner was believed to be a Brit'The only coast guard vessels we saw were tied up at their docks,' O'Keefe told MailOnline; one boat captain said he has never seen Border Patrol on the watersThe right-wing documentarian's latest work follows an August video that showed 'Osama bin Laden' sneaking into Texas from Mexico By David Martosko, Us Political Editor for MailOnline

Published: 09:53 EST, 8 September 2014 | Updated: 21:47 EST, 8 September 2014

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An Ebola-infected ISIS terrorist could easily motorboat across Lake Erie and reach Ohio from Canada, according to an American conservative filmmaker who videotaped a fictionalized one-jihadi incursion across Lake Erie and released the footage Monday.

'On the eve of the 9/11 anniversary our man, dressed as an ISIS terrorist was able to cross Lake Eris, walk off a boat into Cleveland, Ohio '' and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' guerrilla documentarian James O'Keefe narrates.

'At no point did anyone even question [him] or ask him what he was carrying in his suspicious brown duffel bag.'

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Video activist James O'Keefe shows in his latest film how ISIS terrorists could motorboat across lake Erie and land in Cleveland, Ohio without any challenge from US Border Patrol

In his footage, O'Keefe's play-acting 'terrorist' brings pretend poison across one of North America's Great Lakes with the intention of pouring it into Cleveland, Ohio's water supply

Clad in black from head to toe, O'Keefe's terrorist character managed to walk off his boat and into downtown Cleveland, and enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a brown duffel bag '' and was never challenged

O'Keefe's latest online provocation comes at a time when the world's attention is focused on the self-professed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Americans are growing increasingly concerned about the danger the group could pose to the US.

His video shows a black-clad jihadi with a British accent being ferried across Lake Erie, which separates Ohio from the Canadian province of Ontario.

'The British government says American journalist James Foley's ISIS assassin was an Englishman,' O'Keefe says in his narration.

'British intelligence believes more than 500 British citizens have joined ISIS. Brits can enter Canada without a visa; it's virtually an open door.'

In the short gonzo documentary, O'Keefe meets up with a 'terrorist' who has hired a boat to bring him from Ontario to the middle of Lake Erie. The two exchange pleasantries as the pretend jihadi transfers to O'Keefe's American-piloted craft.

'On August 17 we stole Ebola from a lab in Liberia,' he says in the script. 'We took he bandages and the bedsheets and then we covered ourselves in it and hoped that we'd get infected.

'The incubation period is about 21 days, and it's been about '' 21 days.'

O'Keefe, a confirmed rabble-rousing video activist, last made national noise in August with a video showing how an Islamist terrorist '' dressed as Osama bin Laden, no less '' could wade across the Rio Grande River from Mexico to the U.S. without being detected.

'We went to Texas and saw little border security,' he told MailOnline on Monday; 'now we've discovered there's even less border security on the Canadian border.'

Charter caption Bob Swinney told O'Keefe that he has never seen US Border Patrol actually patrolling the lake known in Cleveland as 'America's North Coast'

In the film, a dressed-up Islamist militant character points to the freshwater supply intake that he plans to use as a ricin delivery vehicle

'ISIS terrorist' crosses Canadian border on Lake Erie into US

His jihadi character in this latest video also carries with him a container marked 'ricin.'

Playing the part to the hilt, the actor points to a fresh-water intake port that serves the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area, and tells O'Keefe, 'The water supply is over there. If we put it in there, it will kill a lot of Americans.'

Staring into the camera, O'Keefe clarifies that the terrorist, his ricin and his Ebola-soaked linens are make-believe '' but warns that 'anyone can cross this border. You could cross in a Jet-Ski if you wanted to.'

'You could import weapons, you could import whatever you wanted to, because there's no detection on our borders.'

O'Keefe told MailOnline that 'the only coast guard vessels we saw were tied up at their docks.'

'One of the boat captains expressed his own concern about border security,' he said, 'and worried that perhaps the Great Lakes are the soft underbelly of America.'

According to federal law, boaters who cross from Canada to the US must notify the Customs and Border Protection agency, but it's an open question whether they do -- or even know about the requirement

O'Keefe last made headlines by donning an Osama bin Laden Halloween mask and army fatigues to show how easy it would be for a terrorist to sneak into Texas by wading across the Rio Grande from Mexico

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:33

SoundCloud - Hear the world's soundsTo continue, go to Settings and turn it on

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",e={},e.screenreader="Get in on Google Play",e=c.$a11y.call(a,{hash:e}),d+=h(e)+"\n",d}c=c||a.helpers;var f="",g,h=this.escapeExpression,i="function",j=this;f+='\n',g=b.isiOS,g=c["if"].call(b,g,{hash:{},inverse:j.program(3,l,e),fn:j.program(1,k,e)});if(g||g===0)f+=g;return f+="\n\n",f})}), define("views/app-buttons/app-buttons.css",["require","exports","module","dpi"],function(a,b,c,d){var e=c.exports=document.createElement("style"),f=d(".appButtons__link{display:block;height:57px;overflow:hidden;margin:0 auto}.appButtons.android .appButtons__link{background:url(https://m2-a.sndcdn.com/assets/images/ldpi/appstores/google-9bb8d964.png) 0 0 no-repeat;background-size:165px 57px;width:165px}.appButtons.iOS .appButtons__link{background:url(https://m2-a.sndcdn.com/assets/images/ldpi/appstores/apple-9bb8d964.png) 0 0 no-repeat;background-size:193px 57px;width:193px}");e.styleSheet?e.styleSheet.cssText=f:e.appendChild(document.createTextNode(f)),f=null}), define("lib/gc-store",["require","exports","module","lib/store","lib/mixins/usage-counting"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("lib/store"),f=a("lib/mixins/usage-counting");d=c.exports=e.extend(),f.applyTo(d.prototype)}), define("lib/helpers/a11y-helper",["require","exports","module","vendor/handlebars-runtime"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("vendor/handlebars-runtime");d=c.exports={getAccessibleMarkup:function(a){return''+e.Utils.escapeExpression(a.screenreader)+""+(a.visible?''+e.Utils.escapeExpression(a.visible)+"":"")}}}), define("lib/helpers/count-helper",["require","exports","module","underscore"],function(a,b,c){function g(a){return typeof a!="number"&&(a=parseInt(a,10)),a!==a?"":a.toString().replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g,",")}var d,e=a("underscore"),f;f={max:null,suffix:"+"},d=c.exports={render:function(a,b){return b=b||{},e.defaults(b,f),b.max=b.max||a,a>b.max?b.max+b.suffix:g(a)}}}), define("lib/helpers/translate-helper",["require","exports","module"],function(a,b,c){var d;d=c.exports=function(a){return a}}), define("views/header/search-button",["require","exports","module","config","lib/tracking/tracking-bus","lib/view","views/header/search-button.css"],function(a,b,c){function h(){e.get("searchBox").toggleState("open"),f.action("show","search:prompt")}var d,e=a("config"),f=a("lib/tracking/tracking-bus"),g=a("lib/view");d=c.exports=g.extend({template:function(){return"Search"},tagName:"button",css:a("views/header/search-button.css"),className:"searchButton g-touch-padding g-button-nostyle",events:{click:h}})}), define("views/search/search-box",["require","exports","module","config","lib/event-bus","lib/views/mixins/form","views/search/suggestions-overlay","views/search/suggestions-list","lib/tracking/tracking-bus","lib/view","lib/url","views/search/search-box.tmpl","views/search/search-box.css"],function(a,b,c){function m(){this.toggleState("open",!1),r.call(this)}function n(){var a=this.getElement("input")[0];a.value="",a.setAttribute("value",""),a.focus()}function o(){var a=this.getElement("input")[0].value,b;this.toggleState("filled",!!a.length),b=this.getState("filled"),b?q.call(this,a):!b&&this.suggestionsOverlay&&r.call(this)}function p(){return l.parse(window.location.href).path.indexOf("search")===1}function q(a){if(p())return;var b=!0;this.suggestionsOverlay&&(this.suggestionsOverlay.close(),b=!1,delete this.suggestionsOverlay),this.suggestionsOverlay=new h({Subview:i,subviewArgs:{query:a,maxDisplay:10},showHeader:!0,animate:b}),this.suggestionsOverlay.open()}function r(){this.suggestionsOverlay&&(this.suggestionsOverlay.close(),delete this.suggestionsOverlay)}var d,e=a("config"),f=a("lib/event-bus"),g=a("lib/views/mixins/form"),h=a("views/search/suggestions-overlay"),i=a("views/search/suggestions-list"),j=a("lib/tracking/tracking-bus"),k=a("lib/view"),l=a("lib/url");d=c.exports=k.extend(g,{template:a("views/search/search-box.tmpl"),css:a("views/search/search-box.css"),className:"searchBox g-z-index-overlay",events:{"click .searchBox__searchCancel":m,"click .searchBox__searchEmpty":n,"keyup .searchBox__searchInput":o,"focus .searchBox__searchInput":o},element2selector:{input:".searchBox__searchInput"},states:{open:function(a){this.$el.toggleClass("open",a),a&&this.getElement("input")[0].focus()}},setup:function(){e.set("searchBox",this),f.on("layout:change",this.rerender,this)},dispose:function(){e.set("searchBox",null),f.off("layout:change",this.rerender,this)},renderDecorate:function(){this.toggleState("open",p()),o.call(this)},onSubmit:function(){var a=this.getElement("input")[0],b=a.value.trim(),c=e.get("router"),d;r.call(this),b.length&&(j.action("submit","search:submit"),a.blur(),d=c.getLayoutInfo().args.category||"",c.navigateToRoute("search",[d,b],{trigger:!0}))},onReset:function(){this.getElement("input")[0].focus()},getTemplateData:function(a){var b=l.parse(window.location.href),c=b.query.q;a.needsCancel=!p(),a.q=c}})}), define("views/native-app/download-button",["require","exports","module","config","lib/helpers/client-environment-helper","lib/experiments","lib/tracking/tracking-bus","lib/view","views/native-app/download-button.css","views/native-app/download-button.tmpl"],function(a,b,c){function k(){h.action("submit","download_app_button:click")}var d,e=a("config"),f=a("lib/helpers/client-environment-helper").device,g=a("lib/experiments"),h=a("lib/tracking/tracking-bus"),i=a("lib/view"),j=["g-button","plain"];d=c.exports=i.extend({tagName:"a",className:"downloadAppButton",css:a("views/native-app/download-button.css"),template:a("views/native-app/download-button.tmpl"),events:{click:k},renderDecorate:function(){this.el.href=f.iOS?e.get("appStore"):e.get("googlePlayButton"),this.$el.addClass(j[g.get("download_button")]),f.iOS&&(this.el.target="_blank")}})}), define("lib/helpers/lang-helper",["require","exports","module"],function(a,b,c){var d;d=c.exports={plural:function(a,b,c){return c=typeof c=="string"?c:b+"s",a===1?b:c},possessive:function(a){return a+"'s"}}}), define("lib/scroll-bouncing-fix",["require","exports","module"],function(a,b,c){var d;d=c.exports=function(){this.$el.on("touchmove",function(a){a.preventDefault()})}}), define("vendor/audiomanager/audiomanager_mobile",["require","exports","module"],function(a,b,c){(function(a,b){typeof c!="undefined"&&c.exports?c.exports=b():a.AudioManager=b()})(this,function(){var a,b,c;return function(d){function o(a,b){return m.call(a,b)}function p(a,b){var c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,l,m,n=b&&b.split("/"),o=k.map,p=o&&o["*"]||{};if(a&&a.charAt(0)===".")if(b){n=n.slice(0,n.length-1),a=n.concat(a.split("/"));for(j=0;j0&&(a.splice(j-1,2),j-=2);else break}a=a.join("/")}else a.indexOf("./")===0&&(a=a.substring(2));if((n||p)&&o){c=a.split("/");for(j=c.length;j>0;j-=1){d=c.slice(0,j).join("/");if(n)for(l=n.length;l>0;l-=1){e=o[n.slice(0,l).join("/")];if(e){e=e[d];if(e){f=e,g=j;break}}}if(f)break;!h&&p&&p[d]&&(h=p[d],i=j)}!f&&h&&(f=h,g=i),f&&(c.splice(0,g,f),a=c.join("/"))}return a}function q(a,b){return function(){return f.apply(d,n.call(arguments,0).concat([a,b]))}}function r(a){return function(b){return p(b,a)}}function s(a){return function(b){i[a]=b}}function t(a){if(o(j,a)){var b=j[a];delete j[a],l[a]=!0,e.apply(d,b)}if(!o(i,a)&&!o(l,a))throw new Error("No "+a);return i[a]}function u(a){var b,c=a?a.indexOf("!"):-1;return c>-1&&(b=a.substring(0,c),a=a.substring(c+1,a.length)),[b,a]}function v(a){return function(){return k&&k.config&&k.config[a]||{}}}var e,f,g,h,i={},j={},k={},l={},m=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,n=[].slice;g=function(a,b){var c,d=u(a),e=d[0];return a=d[1],e&&(e=p(e,b),c=t(e)),e?c&&c.normalize?a=c.normalize(a,r(b)):a=p(a,b):(a=p(a,b),d=u(a),e=d[0],a=d[1],e&&(c=t(e))),{f:e?e+"!"+a:a,n:a,pr:e,p:c}},h={require:function(a){return q(a)},exports:function(a){var b=i[a];return typeof b!="undefined"?b:i[a]={}},module:function(a){return{id:a,uri:"",exports:i[a],config:v(a)}}},e=function(a,b,c,e){var f,k,m,n,p,r=[],u;e=e||a;if(typeof c=="function"){b=!b.length&&c.length?["require","exports","module"]:b;for(p=0;p0&&(this._loadedPosition=this._html5Audio.seekable.end(0)*1e3)},d.prototype._onBuffering=function(){this._setState(g.LOADING)},d.prototype._onLoaded=function(a){if(this._duration===undefined||this._duration===0)this._duration=this._html5Audio.duration*1e3;this._isLoaded=!0,this._logger.log('html5 audio event "'+a.type+'"'),this.trigger("loaded",this)},d.prototype._onPositionChange=function(a){this.updatePositions();var b=this._currentPosition-this._prevCurrentPosition,c,d,e;this.trigger("positionChange",this.getCurrentPosition(),this._loadedPosition,this._duration,this);if(!this.isInOneOfStates(g.PLAYING,g.LOADING)){this._state===g.SEEKING&&b>0&&this._setState(g.PLAYING);return}if(this._duration!==0&&this._currentPosition>this._duration){this._errorID=h.HTML5_AUDIO_OVERRUN,this._errorMessage=this._getErrorMessage(this._errorID),this._logger.log("html5 audio error: "+this._errorID+" "+this._errorMessage),this._setState(g.ERROR),this.toggleEventListeners(!1);return}c=(new Date).valueOf(),d=c-this._prevCheckTime;if(d===0)return;e=b/d,e>.7?(clearTimeout(this._bufferingTimeout),this._setState(g.PLAYING),this._bufferingTimeout=null):this._state===g.PLAYING&&this._bufferingTimeout==null&&(this._bufferingTimeout=setTimeout(this._onBuffering,this._settings.bufferingDelay)),this._prevCurrentPosition=this._currentPosition,this._prevCheckTime=c},d.prototype._onStateChange=function(a){this._logger.log('html5 audio event "'+a.type+'"'),clearTimeout(this._bufferingTimeout);switch(a.type){case"playing":if(this._trySeekToStartPosition())return;this.updatePositions(),this._setState(g.PLAYING);break;case"pause":this._setState(g.PAUSED);break;case"ended":this._currentPosition=this._loadedPosition=this._duration,this.trigger("positionChange",this.getCurrentPosition(),this._loadedPosition,this._duration,this),this._setState(g.ENDED),clearInterval(this._positionUpdateTimer);break;case"waiting":if(this.getState()===g.SEEKING)break;this._setState(g.LOADING);break;case"seeking":this._setState(g.SEEKING);break;case"seeked":this.updatePositions(),this._html5Audio.paused?this._setState(g.PAUSED):this._setState(g.PLAYING);break;case"error":this._errorID={1:h.HTML5_AUDIO_ABORTED,2:h.HTML5_AUDIO_NETWORK,3:h.HTML5_AUDIO_DECODE,4:h.HTML5_AUDIO_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED}[this._html5Audio.error.code],this._errorMessage=this._getErrorMessage(this._errorID),this._logger.log("html5 audio error: "+this._errorID+" "+this._errorMessage),this._setState(g.ERROR),this.toggleEventListeners(!1)}},d.prototype._getErrorMessage=function(a){var b={};return b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_ABORTED]="The fetching process was aborted by the user.",b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_NETWORK]="A network connection lost.",b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_DECODE]="An error occurred while decoding the media resource.",b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED]="The media resource is not suitable.",b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_ENDED_EARLY]="Audio playback ended before the indicated duration of the track.",b[h.HTML5_AUDIO_OVERRUN]="Audio playback continued past end of the track.",b[a]}}),c("hlsaudioplayer",["require","exports","module","underscore","errors","vendor/events","html5audioplayer","logger","states"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("underscore"),f=a("errors"),g=a("vendor/events"),h=a("html5audioplayer"),i=a("logger"),j=a("states"),k=1;c.exports=d=function(a,b){h.apply(this,arguments),this._seekPosition=0},e.extend(d.prototype,h.prototype),d.prototype.getType=function(){return"HTML5 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Audio,this._preloadAudio.preload="none");var a=this._preloadAudio;a&&a.preload!=="auto"&&(this._logger.log("preload"),a.preload="auto",a._playerId=this._id,a.type=this._descriptor.mimeType,a.src=this._descriptor.src,a.load())}}),c("hlssingleaudioplayer",["require","exports","module","underscore","errors","vendor/events","hlsaudioplayer","logger","singleaudioplayer","states"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("underscore"),f=a("errors"),g=a("vendor/events"),h=a("hlsaudioplayer"),i=a("logger"),j=a("singleaudioplayer"),k=a("states");c.exports=d=function(a,b){j.apply(this,arguments)},e.extend(d.prototype,j.prototype),e.extend(d.prototype,e.pick(h.prototype,"_seekPosition","seek","getCurrentPosition","_onStateChange")),d.prototype.getType=function(){return"HTML5 HLS single audio"}}),c("mimetypes",{AAC:"audio/aac",M3U8:"application/x-mpegURL",MP4:"audio/mp4",MPEG:"audio/mpeg",OGG:"audio/ogg",WAV:"audio/wav",WEBM:"audio/webm",getTypeByExtension:function(a){var b={mp1:this.MPEG,mp2:this.MPEG,mp3:this.MPEG,mpeg:this.MPEG,mpg:this.MPEG,aac:this.AAC,mp4:this.MP4,ogg:this.OGG,oga:this.OGG,opus:this.OGG,webm:this.WEBM,wav:this.WAV,m3u8:this.M3U8};return b[a]||null}}),c("factory",["require","exports","module","browserutils","hlssingleaudioplayer","mimetypes","singleaudioplayer"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("browserutils"),f=a("hlssingleaudioplayer"),g=a("mimetypes"),h=a("singleaudioplayer");c.exports=d=function(){},d.createAudioPlayer=function(a,b){var c,i,j,k;i=a.src.split(":")[0];if(i==="rtmp"||i==="rtmpt")return null;c=d.getMimeType(a);if(c===g.M3U8)if(e.isNativeHlsSupported())k=new f(a,b);else return null;else if(e.supportHTML5Audio()&&e.canPlayType(c))k=new h(a,b);else return null;return k},d.getMimeType=function(a){if(a.mimeType)return a.mimeType;var b=a.src.split("?")[0];return 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this._players)this._players.hasOwnProperty(b)&&this._players[b].setVolume(this._volume)},d.prototype.getVolume=function(){return this._volume},d.prototype.setMute=function(a){this._muted=a;for(var b in this._players)this._players.hasOwnProperty(b)&&this._players[b].setMute(this._muted)},d.prototype.getMute=function(){return this._muted},d.prototype.createAudioPlayer=function(a){var b,c,d;a.id||(a.id=Math.floor(Math.random()*1e10).toString()+(new Date).getTime().toString());if(!a.src)throw new Error("AudioManager: You need to pass a valid src");return this._players[a.id]||(this._players[a.id]=f.createAudioPlayer(a,this._settings)),this._players[a.id].setVolume(this._volume),this._players[a.id].setMute(this._muted),this._players[a.id].on("stateChange",this._onStateChange,this),this._players[a.id]},d.prototype._onStateChange=function(a,b){b.getState()===g.DEAD&&this.removeAudioPlayer(b.getId())}}),b(["audiomanager"]),b("audiomanager")})}), define("lib/mixins/usage-counting",["require","exports","module","lib/mixin"],function(a,b,c){var d,e=a("lib/mixin");d=c.exports=new e({onCleanup:null,onIncrement:null,onDecrement:null,after:{initialize:function(a){this._counts={},this._needsGC=!1,a=a||{},this._autoCleanup=!!a.autoCleanup,this.onCleanup=a.onCleanup,this.onIncrement=a.onIncrement,this.onDecrement=a.onDecrement},reset:function(){this._counts={},this._needsGC=!1},set:function(a,b){this._counts[a]||(this._counts[a]=1,this.onIncrement&&this.onIncrement(b,a,1))},unset:function(a){delete this._counts[a]}},before:{reset:function(){this.onCleanup&&this.forEach(this.onCleanup)}},countFor:function(a){return this._counts[a]||0},increment:function(a,b){return this.has(a)&&(b=typeof 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return{source:e,index:b,model:e.at(b)}}}function t(a){var b=this.sources.indexOf(a);b>-1&&b-1?f.blacklist[d]:!0),d===-1?e(f.dupes,!0):d-1&&b-1?f.blacklist[d]:!0),d===-1?e(f.dupes,!0):d

Link to Article

Archived Version

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 02:40

Power downWhen is the last time you powered down. All the way down. Not asleep. Not in airplane mode but ON |OFF. Try it with me now. Take your phone out, if you're not already futzing with it, and turn it off (note: this is not advised if you are reading this on your mobile. In this case you are probably too far gone). Fair warning, you will experience a short stint of anxiety and emptiness. These mobile withdrawals are unpleasant (and slightly pathetic) but the sobering and liberating experience is worth more than your 25th snapchat today. I promise.

I was a mobile junkie. The phosphorescent glow left me mesmerized and needing more. Each Snapchat or push notification fueled my need for news, updates, and winning the battle against boredom. At my worst, most conversations with friends and family would start with ''do you have a charger?''

I remember the turning point. I had just returned from a camping trip where I 'witnessed' a beautiful sunset. As I was reminiscing over the dozens of photos I took, I barely had any recollection of ACTUALLY being there. I was so focused on eternalizing the moment through my phone, that I hadn't taken the time to eternalize it in my brain. I accepted my addiction and decided to make a change.

Full disclosure: I'm a technologist that works almost exclusively on mobile. I've had the opportunity to build some really neat things (thing 1 and thing 2) alongside very talented people. So my telling you to put your phone down is a little bit like a girl scout telling you only to buy 2 boxes. We (as app makers) want them to be addicting. Like a potato chip manufacturer, we try to put just the right crunch and the perfect amount of salt so you can't help but have just one more. We want you to get addicted. It puts the potato chips on our table.

There have been several great posts and humbling videos about mobile abuse so I hope I'm not beating a dead horse. I have no doubt that mobile is the future that is already here. Thousands of great apps have enriched and enhanced every aspect of our lives. As a human being, many of these triumphs are trumped by the overwhelming anxiety phones have instilled in us. We've trained ourselves to constantly seek refuge from boring, everyday life through our phones. We've grown so accustomed to this behavior that we can't shut it out, even during truly exciting or beautiful times in our lives. We resort to the tapping & pecking muscle memory. The reality is 95% of each day is boring, everyday life. I had to hit rock bottom to realize I didn't want to spend 95% of my life glued to a screen.

Rock bottomHow I interacted with people in real life had fundamentally changed. I couldn't have one conversation without checking my phone. I needed it.

**inner-dialogue intensifies** ''I wonder what [friend who isn't present] is doing? I hope the Badgers won (edit: they didn't)? Did that dude from work ever email me back? How is the INTU stock doing today? Did I get any more Instagram Likes?''

Having access to this data around the clock while attempting to hold a meaningful conversation with a good friend I hadn't seen in weeks was impossible. I'm embarrassed I let it get to the point where if I wasn't tinkering on my phone, I was thinking about it. I bet if you start paying closer attention to your mobile habits, you'll notice it too.

this is your brain on mobileI want it here. I want it now. We live in an uber-convenient (hue hue hue) time where ride-sharing, same-day delivery, and instant gratification are the norm. This also means we are doing our nomadic ancestors a serious injustice by not walking anywhere anymore. I live in one of the most walkable cities on the planet, San Francisco. I Lyfted everywhere, got groceries delivered, etc. My phone just made it too convenient to be active. If I was walking, my phone was in my face, and I became a hazard to myself, other pedestrians, and drivers.

''I want the world. I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket.'''Š'--'ŠVeruca Salt

Decreased recall & critical thinking. Remember the glory days when you would spend an entire afternoon playfully arguing with a spouse, sibling, or friend about some trivial factual disagreement like which NFL team had the most Super Bowl wins? I do. My brother and I would spend entire afternoons having intense debates about the most Google-able, answerable topics. The truth is the answers never mattered as much as the conversation. It brought us closer. It taught us how to communicate. How to debate. Today that intense argument would have fizzled out in 2 minutes with Google having the final say.

On the clock. Around the clock. There is no 9-to-5 anymore. I've accepted that. What I haven't accepted is after receiving an email at 10pm I'm expected to respond within 10 minutes. The line between work and home is static. What's worse is I somehow used tweets and snapchats as a vehicle for validation and self worth. So even those activities felt like chores. Constant push notifications, emails, and messages meant I could never shut down and turn off.

The following is a transcription of a dramatic reenactment of a real text exchange. The names have been changed or omitted to protect the innocent.Appointments are moving targets. Let's take another trip down memory lane, the year: 1992. You call your buddy from the landline and agree to meet at the local park in 30 minutes. Wanting to impress your friends, you get lost in the activity of adding those tinkling gadgets to your bike spokes for almost an hour. As soon as you snap out of your childish trance, you race to the park to try and catch your friend, but he's nowhere to be found. The next day you have to sit and hear about how they ambushed the neighbor girls with water balloons. You missed it.

Phones have turned us into inconsiderate and tardy buttholes. I lost respect for my friend's time and being punctual wasn't a priority because updating them with an ETA became passive and far too easy.

I'm bored. Entertain me. Here's the thing about saying, ''I'm bored.'' It's a (boringly) grey area and a slippery slope. What used to be a thrilling experience (like riding the subway for the first time) is now mundane. Why not pass the time with a quick game of Three's? This time spent crashing a fucking bird into a pipe quickly accumulates where a significant amount of seemingly insignificant yet beautiful moments pass you by whilst staring at a screen. Also'...taking a picture of a beautiful moment still doesn't count if the picture and filtered output is the end goal. Take that moment in. Truly experience it. Not from behind a Sepia filter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1cSo I made a change.I made a promise to myself and my friends to live a more fulfilling life. I let a 2.3 x 4.5 inch piece of glass, metal, and plastic get in the way of that. I made a few small changes that compounded into a better prescription than any anxiety medication. I started rehabbing slowly by rethinking how, why, and when I used my phone. I became very meticulous about when I could and could not use my phone. I went as far as making it inconvenient to use apps I didn't actually NEED.

A new phone layout to prevent phone abuse. Only necessary apps on the home screen. Everything else tucked away. Inconvenience is the point. Ween yourself off. Turn OFF all badges, sounds, vibrations, and alerts.In addition to this change, I started noticing more and more opportunities to cut the mobile ties. I've summarized these tricks into a program I'm calling the mobile cleanse.

The mobile cleanseKeep it in your pants. This is an obvious one. It's rare that you need to use your phone (or genitals for that matter) when in a social setting. There are obvious exceptions like your group needs directions or you want a reasonable amount of photos of a once-in-a-lifetime event (weddings, baby's first steps). Brunches and sunsets happen every day. No need to miss the actual experience by snapping 5,000 pictures of it. Respecting these limits will enrich every interaction you have with every day objects, people, and life. If you feel the itch to pull out your phone in a break in the conversation'...'silence' it. Undoubtedly your friends will whip theirs out, making the temptation almost unbearable. If you want to truly cleanse, this step is unbreakable. You can also influence your friends' behaviors by playfully shaming them when they pull out their phones unnecessarily ('Oh hey Hollywood!'). To get started with this one, I instructed my friends to punch my arm if I broke this rule in their presence. I adapted quickly. The itch soon decreased. Slowly at first, but after a few days of withdrawal it was completely gone. I no longer relied on my phone to solve any anxiety or unnecessary emptiness. I was human again.Brain first, phone second. Can't think of the artist for a song you just heard? Siri can't help you now. Exercise your brain, and try to figure it out for yourself. If you still can't get it after a few minutes of focus, shift your attention to something else and it will come to you sooner than later. Be sure to carry a notepad (that's right'...actual pen and paper) to jot it down so worst case you can Google it later.Hide and delete. This is the mobile cleanse mantra. Say it with me now'... ''Hummmmmmm'...hide (inhale)'...and delete (exhale)'...and hide (inhale)'...and delete (exhale).'' You don't need 200 apps. Uninstall the ones you no longer use and tuck the non-essentials into folders a few swipes from your main screen so it's inconvenient to access them. You'll soon realize how little you actually need them. My essentials include: phone, text, Spotify (music is my guilty pleasure. I'm not perfect), and Wunderlist (I'm a big fan of sole-focus task management'...more on that in a second).Never push. Always pull. Unless your wife is expecting a baby at any minute, there's nothing more important than the people you are with in that moment. Turn ALL notifications & badges off. Set your phone to silent (not VIBRATE). Don't even allow yourself the temptation to swipe and catch up on the latest insta-snap-vine-whatsapp-videos. Don't take away from the beautiful, seemingly insignificant, uninstagrammable moment you are having with the people you love. These nasty notifications also distract you from work, hobbies, and passions. Keep your focus. Buzzfeed's top 25 beach bodies can wait. When mobile browsing is acceptable, PULL the information you seek (manual refresh, etc). Don't let it come to you. Cold turkey. No exceptions.Your delivery is free if it's a mile or less. Never Uber / Lyft / Sidecar if your destination is < >Buy a watch. I would often catch myself pulling out my phone to merely check the time (and then check the time again since I never actually remembered it the first time). This frequent 'time check' reenforced the habit of constantly pulling out my phone and undoubtedly led to unnecessary browsing if a waiting notification piqued my interest. Buy a watch. Wear it.No phones in the bedroom or bathroom. Let's focus on the bathroom first and how much time you save without your phone (see below for a non-scientific study of time spent on the toilet with and without a phone each day). Also the risk of accidentally dropping your iPhone in the toilet shoots dangerously close to zero if toilet tapping isn't allowed. Now for the bedroom. It's proven that looking at bright screens just before bed increases the time it takes to fall asleep. Step 1 ABSOLUTELY applies in the bedroom. Imagine two star-crossed lovers staring deeply into eachothers' phablets. Playfully destroying pigs or experiencing mind-numbing insta-gasms. Yeah you get the point. If there's one experience I don't want to miss for a new LinkedIn connection, it's one where I can truly connect with the person I love.Time spent pooping

Link to Article

Archived Version

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:53

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Strategy has "things that one doesn't think of normally in context of war," he saysHe says President Obama's strategy to quash ISIS with the help of allies will succeed"Doing it with allies and partners isn't just smart, it's strong," Kerry says of Obama's planAfter talks in Jeddah with Persian Gulf leaders, he will go to Paris for an Iraq conference(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday would not say the United States is at war with ISIS, telling CNN in an interview that the administration's strategy includes "many different things that one doesn't think of normally in context of war."

"What we are doing is engaging in a very significant counterterrorism operation," Kerry told CNN's Elise Labott in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "It's going to go on for some period of time. If somebody wants to think about it as being a war with ISIL, they can do so, but the fact is it's a major counterterrorism operation that will have many different moving parts."

Kerry made a distinction between ISIS and terror groups operating in Somalia and Yemen.

"ISIL is an animal unto itself," he said. "And it is significantly such a threat because of the foreign fighters that are attracted to it -- which you don't see in Somalia or ... Yemen." Most importantly, Kerry said, ISIL has attracted a "significant coalition" that is determined to go and destroy it.

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Kerry, in Jeddah for meetings with Arab leaders to enlist regional support for a coalition to defeat ISIS, defended the administration's insistence that the 2001 authority to go after al Qaeda and affiliates applies to ISIS. He insisted that, despite the split between jihadist groups, the origin of ISIS as an al Qaeda affiliate is enough to consider them connected.

"This group is and has been al Qaeda," Kerry said. "By trying to change its name, it doesn't change who it is, what it does."

Asked how much of the interpretation lets Congress get away from a vote on going after ISIS -- a scenario lawmakers would like to avoid in an election year -- Kerry responded "none."

Kerry said the opposition battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has been outgunned and outmanned, but the administration believes that equation can change "if they receive proper training, if there are recruits that come in, and if it grows over a period of time."

The regime's legitimacy could never be restored, Kerry said.

"It is going to be our policy to separate (al-Assad), who is mostly in the western part of Syria, in a certain corridor from the eastern part of Syria, which he doesn't control," Kerry said. "ISIL controls that part. So it is clearly ... not a very difficult task to target ISIL."

The talks in Jeddah come a day after U.S. President Barack Obama outlined a plan to "dismantle and ultimately destroy" the Sunni extremist group that has seized a swath of territory across Iraq and Syria.

Videotaped beheadings, including two murders of American journalists, have led to the push for a broader counterterrorism mission, including possible airstrikes in civil war-torn Syria. But the United States has ruled out sending American troops for a ground offensive.

On Thursday, Kerry met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Jeddah before wider talks with other regional leaders.

Asked whether Saudi Arabia supports the extremist expressions of the Wahhabism version of Islam espoused by some terror groups, Kerry told CNN that the nation is "deeply committed to the effort to terminate ISIL."

"They have never funded the kind of effort you're talking about with respect to ISIL," Kerry said, adding that a significant part of the counterterrorism effort will include stemming fundraising for terror groups.

After Saudi Arabia, Kerry will visit Turkey and Egypt for meetings with senior officials, state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

In a statement after Obama's prime-time speech Wednesday, Kerry said the President's strategy would succeed "because doing it with allies and partners isn't just smart, it's strong."

Kerry said his travels through the Middle East and Europe over the coming days were an effort to "meet a unifying threat with a unified response."

While American leadership is "indispensable," he said, "we cannot destroy this group on our own. Defeating this common enemy calls for a common cause, and we're taking it on to succeed together."

Obama spoke Wednesday with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, a senior administration official told journalists. "The Saudis made very clear that they support this mission, they will join us in this mission," the official said.

The backing of Sunni-dominated nations such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey will lend support to any campaign to contain the spread of ISIS.

Turkey's capacity or willingness to act may be limited by the fact that ISIS continues to hold 47 Turkish hostages seized from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

So far, Shiite-majority Iran has played the biggest role on the ground in northern Iraq, where its militias have been helping Iraqi forces.

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ISIS, which now calls itself the "Islamic State," has said it is bent on creating an Islamic "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria where harsh Sharia law governs every aspect of life.

Iraqi leader: 'Everybody's on board'

Baghdad was the first stop on Kerry's tour, where he met with Iraq's new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

In a joint news conference with Kerry on Wednesday, al-Abadi said the international community had a responsibility to help defend Iraqis from the threat posed by ISIS.

He also said Iraqis had worked hard recently to form an inclusive government where "everybody's on board" to fight the militants.

In a separate news conference, Kerry said the U.S. was already coordinating with some 40 other nations to provide humanitarian, military and other assistance to Iraqis to fight ISIS.

The United States has so far launched more than 150 airstrikes to weaken the militants in Iraq, Kerry said.

Syria airstrikes

Obama said Wednesday that 475 more U.S. military advisers will head to Iraq, raising the total of American forces there to 1,700 for a mission originally described as limited.

He also shifted $25 million in military aid to Iraqi forces, including Kurdish fighters in the north combating the ISIS extremists. The aid could include ammunition, small arms and vehicles, as well as military education and training, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

It's not clear how soon U.S. forces will launch operations in Syria.

Senior administration officials who briefed reporters before Obama's speech on condition of not being identified said airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria would occur "at a time and place of our choosing."

"We're not going to telegraph our punches by being specific about the time and nature of the targets," one official said, adding that "we will do that as necessary as we develop targets."

'Very difficult, long road'

Kerry met with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Jordan before leaving Thursday morning for the Saudi seaside city of Jeddah, where he was scheduled to meet with the leaders of half a dozen Persian Gulf states.

In addition to support for a military campaign against ISIS, administration officials said the United States would be looking to its Gulf allies to crack down on ISIS funding and stop the flow of foreign fighters, both seen as the lifeblood of the jihadist group.

The United States also wants Sunni Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, to counter ISIS by helping to persuade other Sunnis to eschew its ideology.

"It's going to be a very difficult, long road to get there, but it's something that the region and our partners in the Gulf can play a really important role in," a senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said.

"And there's a number of different ways that they can do that, both in terms of just their relationships, in terms of their encouragement, in terms of their financial contributions, in terms of lifting the burden that the government here has."

After Saudi Arabia, Kerry will travel to Paris to attend an international conference on Iraq, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Obama will chair a meeting later this month at the U.N. General Assembly, where the global strategy is expected to be hammered out.

Kerry: 'Broad coalition' of nations will help fight ISIS

Al Qaeda battles ISIS for global jihadist leadership

CNN's Becky Anderson and Ashley Fantz contributed to this report.

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:10

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Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:02

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Thu, 11 Sep 2014 23:20

BY:Washington Free Beacon StaffSeptember 11, 2014 6:00 pm

Deputy State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf had a tense exchange with AP reporter Matt Lee after he suggested the Obama administration's attempt to put together a coalition to combat ISIL was a ''flailing effort.''

After Lee pointed out that Germany and Turkey have both backed out of launching airstrikes, Harf snapped back:

Why do you always focus on what people say they won't do instead of the plethora of things they've said they will do? Why is that what you focus on? That's actually not an unfair question, I don't think, when we focus on our effort here. In terms of the Saudis, we're in discussions with them about this specific program that the president ask for funding for. They have agreed to help with part of it'...obviously we can get more details out later as those are hashed out'...

Lee chuckled at the combative tone of her monologue, following up her description of the current U.S.-Saudi effort to train Syrian moderates with a question about the plan being ''not fully cooked yet.''

''Well, the discussions are ongoing. The secretary is on the ground in Jeddah and is meeting with the King of Saudi Arabia this evening, so let's wait,'' Harf said. ''I know there's a desire for everything to happen in real time, but let's wait and see how those meetings go, but they've agreed to play a role here in some way.''

''Everything does happen in real time, Marie,'' Lee responded.

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Thu, 11 Sep 2014 23:16

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BY:Washington Free Beacon StaffSeptember 11, 2014 3:43 pm

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf rejected the expression ''war on terrorism'' during a briefing Thursday while answering questions on President Obama's strategy to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).

''Is that something that's out of the lexicon now of the U.S. government's comments on what's happening?'' a reporter asked.

''It's certainly not how I would refer to our efforts,'' Harf said.

The reporter went on to ask if Obama's plan for ISIL meant a return to ''the doctrine of preemption,'' a term Harf also shied away from.

''When we talk about how you degrade and defeat terrorist organizations, it's not exactly I think how you're probably using the term,'' Harf said. ''And it's not one that I'm using. Our goal is to prevent terrorist organizations from being able to attack the United States or our interests, to degrade their capabilities to do so. Obviously those are the kinds of terms I would use when it comes to this current effort.''

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