The CIA may call them 'enhanced interrogation techniques' but if anyone else did them they would be quite rightly be called torture.
After the release of the summary of the report compiled by the Senate Intelligence Committee, the most surprising thing is that people are surprised by it, we all knew it was going on at the time so sexual abuse, beatings, water boarding and sleep deprivation are not anything we didn't already know.
The report also states that the intelligence gained through torture was next to useless and 'failed to gather any information that foiled subsequent threats to US national security' which takes away the legs of anyone who wants to argue that it stopped further attacks and the US later released the majority of those they tortured back in to the world after years of imprisonment without charge.
As for the damage to Americas good reputation, what good reputation would that be? George W Bush splashed that up the nearest wall with his actions following 9/11.
So when do the trials start? The UN special rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights, Ben Emmerson, has released a statement saying 'It is now time to take action' and 'The individuals responsible for the criminal conspiracy revealed in today’s report must be brought to justice' so let's start rounding them up and get them in front of a judge otherwise it's just many pages of meaningless words and George W Bush gets to go on television and bewilderingly call the torturers 'patriots' and therefore justifies the actions of every despot and tyrant there has ever been.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Monday, 8 December 2014
Put This On Your Present List
Apart from missing the bit where Mark The Beast' Labbett catches the contestants with one second left on the clock, it can ruin a perfectly good evening but that's the way with aliens, they just turn up without warning...until now.
For just $49.28 (approx £30) you can buy a UFO-02 Detector, magnetometer interfaced with micro controller for detecting magnetic anomalies.
Who wouldn't want to find one of those in their stockings this Christmas!
It works by monitoring its surrounding area for any magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies caused by aliens and warns you of an imminent probing by flashing 16 LED's simultaneously and beeping.
With this bit of kit you will never need to inflate another rubber ring to sit on ever again so add this to your cart and tell those pesky aliens where they can stick their probes.
Sunday, 7 December 2014
New Christmas Songs
I have often lamented the sad demise of the Christmas song and since how since it's heyday in the 70s when the likes of Slade and Wizzard were prancing around the Top of The Pops studio in fake snow and flares, today's musicians just haven't cut it.
With the exception of 'All i want for Christmas is you' by Mariah Carey, it has been pants and this year it is no different with the same old songs being recycled on everyone's Greatest Christmas list.
Now i enjoy hearing festive tunes but there is only so many times you can hear The Pogues or Mud but the record industry has come up with a new way of making Christmas hits, they just get someone to re-record a song and release it at Christmas and instant entry on the Greatest Christmas Hits list next year.
For some reason Whitney Houston (brilliantly) warbling her way through 'I Will Always Love You' is now regarded as a Christmas hit and so is the Rik Astley mauling of 'When I Fall In Love' which is all very reminiscent of 'Die Hard' popping up its head in Best Christmas Films lists.
They may have snow in the videos but Whitney is not a Christmas Song, Astley is not a Christmas Song (and i'm not even certain Astley qualifies as a singer) and Die Hard is not a Christmas Film now redo those lists and for crying out loud give Shakin' Stevens the credit 'Merry Christmas Everyone' deserves!
With the exception of 'All i want for Christmas is you' by Mariah Carey, it has been pants and this year it is no different with the same old songs being recycled on everyone's Greatest Christmas list.
Now i enjoy hearing festive tunes but there is only so many times you can hear The Pogues or Mud but the record industry has come up with a new way of making Christmas hits, they just get someone to re-record a song and release it at Christmas and instant entry on the Greatest Christmas Hits list next year.
For some reason Whitney Houston (brilliantly) warbling her way through 'I Will Always Love You' is now regarded as a Christmas hit and so is the Rik Astley mauling of 'When I Fall In Love' which is all very reminiscent of 'Die Hard' popping up its head in Best Christmas Films lists.
They may have snow in the videos but Whitney is not a Christmas Song, Astley is not a Christmas Song (and i'm not even certain Astley qualifies as a singer) and Die Hard is not a Christmas Film now redo those lists and for crying out loud give Shakin' Stevens the credit 'Merry Christmas Everyone' deserves!
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Religion Doing Science
The Spiritual Science Research Foundation have been living up to their name and doing some spiritual and scientific research on climate change and the figures are in and the science has been collaborated and the reason behind climate change is...negative energies such as selfishness, greed, anger, aggressiveness and possessiveness emanating from humans.
They found that there is a rise in spiritual pollution which allows the likes of ghosts, demons and devils from the spiritual dimension to capitalise on this increase in the human race and just as we try to clean dirt out of the spaces that we use from time to time at a physical level, nature responds to the need for cleansing and correcting the subtle intangible pollution of spiritual pollution in the environment which results in an increase of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, eruption of volcanoes, cyclones etc.
It's conclusion is that 'it is imperative that we understand the basic root causes of global warming and natural disasters and take appropriate steps to eradicate the spiritual pollution in the world'.
I suppose the nicest thing to say is that it is another view but i guess religionists doing science was never going to be a good match.
They found that there is a rise in spiritual pollution which allows the likes of ghosts, demons and devils from the spiritual dimension to capitalise on this increase in the human race and just as we try to clean dirt out of the spaces that we use from time to time at a physical level, nature responds to the need for cleansing and correcting the subtle intangible pollution of spiritual pollution in the environment which results in an increase of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, eruption of volcanoes, cyclones etc.
It's conclusion is that 'it is imperative that we understand the basic root causes of global warming and natural disasters and take appropriate steps to eradicate the spiritual pollution in the world'.
I suppose the nicest thing to say is that it is another view but i guess religionists doing science was never going to be a good match.
Peace On Earth?
The herald angels had better stop harking about peace on earth and mercy mild because at times it seems that the whole world is at war and according to the latest Institute for Economics and Peace’s (IEP’s), it almost is with just 11 countries not involved in conflict of one kind or another.
The world as a whole has been getting incrementally less peaceful every year since 2007 and with certain countries doing more than their fair share to make sure that particular stat continues, it is no surprise that the UK finds itself in 47th place in the Global Peace index, USA is 101st, Israel 149th, Russia 152nd and Iraq 159th with unsurprisingly Syria the least peaceful place on earth.
The Herald Angel would be fine if it only included Switzerland, Japan, Qatar, Mauritius, Uruguay, Chile, Botswana, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Panama and Brazil in its song though because those are the most peaceful places with the least amount of internal and external conflict.
The director of the IEP Camilla Schippa warned that the state of peace in our time has been slowly but steadily decreasing in recent years and blames 'Major economic and geopolitical shocks, such as the global financial crisis and the Arab Spring. In the last year we have seen a large increase in terrorist activity and continuing global unrest means that there is unlikely to be a reversal of this trend in the short run'.
The world as a whole has been getting incrementally less peaceful every year since 2007 and with certain countries doing more than their fair share to make sure that particular stat continues, it is no surprise that the UK finds itself in 47th place in the Global Peace index, USA is 101st, Israel 149th, Russia 152nd and Iraq 159th with unsurprisingly Syria the least peaceful place on earth.
The Herald Angel would be fine if it only included Switzerland, Japan, Qatar, Mauritius, Uruguay, Chile, Botswana, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Panama and Brazil in its song though because those are the most peaceful places with the least amount of internal and external conflict.
The director of the IEP Camilla Schippa warned that the state of peace in our time has been slowly but steadily decreasing in recent years and blames 'Major economic and geopolitical shocks, such as the global financial crisis and the Arab Spring. In the last year we have seen a large increase in terrorist activity and continuing global unrest means that there is unlikely to be a reversal of this trend in the short run'.
Friday, 5 December 2014
The Nativity For Cockney's
It has been said that many British don't understand the origins of Christmas with the East End of London most ignorant of the Nativity so it is to them that i direct this Two Ronnie's inspired post that hopefully will make everything clear.
About two thousand donkey’s ears ago there lived a young Cadbury’s Twirl named Mary. One Day's Dawning an angel appeared and told her she had been chosen to have a dustbin lid. The dustbin lid would be God's currant bun and she must call him Jesus.
Mary and Joseph were Cash and Carried and Joseph and his trouble and strife were told they had to go on a long Ball of Chalk to Bethlehem. Mary had to ride on a donkey down the frog and toad but at last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. Mary was very tired and needed a place take a sooty and sweep but there was no room at the Rub-a-dub-dub but one said he had a stable, there was a nasty George Raft and a bit two thirty but they could stay there Burton-on-Trent free as long as they could stand the pen and ink.
A short Harry Lime later, Mary gave birth to her Currant Bun and she wrapped Jesus in an old Westminster Abbey Nanny Goat and laid Him in a manger.
Some nearby Arnold Palmers saw a bright light appear in the apple pie and couldn't believe their mince pies when an Angel appeared and told them that God’s currant bun had been born.
The Arnold Palmers went to see the dustbin lid and said that an angel had appeared in the apple pie and told them that this dustbin lid was to be the Saviour.
Meanwhile a carpet Wise Men saw a new La-Di-Da in the apple pie and they knew from their fish hooks that it meant that a great rubber ring had been born.
They decided to find this new rubber ring guided by the la-di-da and when they found him they gave him gave him gifts and that’s why we have Christmas.
About two thousand donkey’s ears ago there lived a young Cadbury’s Twirl named Mary. One Day's Dawning an angel appeared and told her she had been chosen to have a dustbin lid. The dustbin lid would be God's currant bun and she must call him Jesus.
Mary and Joseph were Cash and Carried and Joseph and his trouble and strife were told they had to go on a long Ball of Chalk to Bethlehem. Mary had to ride on a donkey down the frog and toad but at last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. Mary was very tired and needed a place take a sooty and sweep but there was no room at the Rub-a-dub-dub but one said he had a stable, there was a nasty George Raft and a bit two thirty but they could stay there Burton-on-Trent free as long as they could stand the pen and ink.
A short Harry Lime later, Mary gave birth to her Currant Bun and she wrapped Jesus in an old Westminster Abbey Nanny Goat and laid Him in a manger.
Some nearby Arnold Palmers saw a bright light appear in the apple pie and couldn't believe their mince pies when an Angel appeared and told them that God’s currant bun had been born.
The Arnold Palmers went to see the dustbin lid and said that an angel had appeared in the apple pie and told them that this dustbin lid was to be the Saviour.
Meanwhile a carpet Wise Men saw a new La-Di-Da in the apple pie and they knew from their fish hooks that it meant that a great rubber ring had been born.
They decided to find this new rubber ring guided by the la-di-da and when they found him they gave him gave him gifts and that’s why we have Christmas.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
More Cuts Yet To Come
So how's this austerity working out for you? Not very good is it and tucked away in the small print of yesterdays Autumn summary was the announcement that we have not even seen the worst of it yet with only 40% of the cuts announced so far being actioned, there is still another 60% waiting in the wings for us.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said Osborne has a duty to spell out his deficit reduction plans and warned of cuts on a 'colossal” scale' as the scale of cuts to departmental budgets and local government would reduce the role of the state to a point where it would have 'changed beyond recognition'.
The Office for Budget Responsibility joined in and said that the cuts set out in Treasury assumptions would see the state reduced to its smallest size relative to GDP for 80 years.
Obviously after 4 years of Conservative Party cuts, we are still no better of then we were when Gideon and Dave took over the reins of Government and with the majority of cuts kicked into the long grass ready for whoever makes up the next Government, it's all very depressing.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies said Osborne has a duty to spell out his deficit reduction plans and warned of cuts on a 'colossal” scale' as the scale of cuts to departmental budgets and local government would reduce the role of the state to a point where it would have 'changed beyond recognition'.
The Office for Budget Responsibility joined in and said that the cuts set out in Treasury assumptions would see the state reduced to its smallest size relative to GDP for 80 years.
Obviously after 4 years of Conservative Party cuts, we are still no better of then we were when Gideon and Dave took over the reins of Government and with the majority of cuts kicked into the long grass ready for whoever makes up the next Government, it's all very depressing.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Demonising Hungary
The demonising of Hungary has gone largely unnoticed but it is gathering pace nicely with John McCain today labelling the Prime Minister Viktor Orban a 'neo-fascist dictator'.
It all goes back to last year when Orban refused to join the new US and EU Cold War against Russia and annoyed them further by allowing the Russians to build a pipeline through Hungary and signed a deal that would see Russian firm Rosatom develop NATO member Hungary’s nuclear power much to the chagrin of the EU and US who banned Hungarian officials from entering the US.
With Russia Hungary's third largest trading partner, Orban has said that he will pursue whatever policies he believes are in his country’s national interest, regardless of the opinions of the west and after discovering that sanctions would cost his country a million pound a month, refused to join in and continued trading with Russia, saying it would be like 'shooting oneself in the foot'.
The West didn't like Hungary daring to question EU and US policy, and the punishment began with Obama declared that Hungary used 'overt intimidation' and was 'increasingly target civil society'.
I would assume the Amerians already have agitators in the country trying to stir up a protest much along the lines of Ukraine, a protest that they can then hijack and use as an excuse for regime change so we can expect Hungary and Orban to face further ramped up accusations of all sorts of nasties in the new year because as many World leaders have found out, do things our way or we brush off the blueprint for regime change and stick a patsy in who will.
It all goes back to last year when Orban refused to join the new US and EU Cold War against Russia and annoyed them further by allowing the Russians to build a pipeline through Hungary and signed a deal that would see Russian firm Rosatom develop NATO member Hungary’s nuclear power much to the chagrin of the EU and US who banned Hungarian officials from entering the US.
With Russia Hungary's third largest trading partner, Orban has said that he will pursue whatever policies he believes are in his country’s national interest, regardless of the opinions of the west and after discovering that sanctions would cost his country a million pound a month, refused to join in and continued trading with Russia, saying it would be like 'shooting oneself in the foot'.
The West didn't like Hungary daring to question EU and US policy, and the punishment began with Obama declared that Hungary used 'overt intimidation' and was 'increasingly target civil society'.
I would assume the Amerians already have agitators in the country trying to stir up a protest much along the lines of Ukraine, a protest that they can then hijack and use as an excuse for regime change so we can expect Hungary and Orban to face further ramped up accusations of all sorts of nasties in the new year because as many World leaders have found out, do things our way or we brush off the blueprint for regime change and stick a patsy in who will.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Hawkings Seeing The Threat
I see how it is now. I have been banging on about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence for years and nobody takes any notice but when Steven Hawking says it, everyone starts getting worried.
Anyway, it is nice to see that Hawking has backed me up by declaring that: 'The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race'.
Prof. Hawking says the primitive forms of artificial intelligence developed so far have already proved very useful but he fears the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans as it would: 'take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate and humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded'.
Clever bloke that Steven Hawking but it isn't just the theoretical physicist and Albert Einstein Award winner and me with my cycling proficiency test certificate in the bad-AI corner, we are joined by Elon Musk, chief executive of rocket-maker Space X who warned that AI is 'our biggest existential threat'.
If you can't take the word of the Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, the man who co-founded paypal and someone who can ride a bicycle without wobbling, whose word can you take?
Anyway, it is nice to see that Hawking has backed me up by declaring that: 'The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race'.
Prof. Hawking says the primitive forms of artificial intelligence developed so far have already proved very useful but he fears the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans as it would: 'take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate and humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded'.
Clever bloke that Steven Hawking but it isn't just the theoretical physicist and Albert Einstein Award winner and me with my cycling proficiency test certificate in the bad-AI corner, we are joined by Elon Musk, chief executive of rocket-maker Space X who warned that AI is 'our biggest existential threat'.
If you can't take the word of the Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, the man who co-founded paypal and someone who can ride a bicycle without wobbling, whose word can you take?
Monday, 1 December 2014
God Banned Christmas Trees
For someone who can do anything he wants at any time, God sure messed up having his only begotten son be born on Christmas Day because as anyone with a birthday on December 25th will tell you, nobody cares about blowing out candles when Santa's in town.
Maybe that is why when he wrote his book of what you must do to get into his house in the clouds, he tried to ruin Christmas by flat out forbidding Christmas Trees in the Bible.
Jeremiah 10:2-4 specifically states:'Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not'.
That's pretty conclusive, the Lord saith don't be a heathen and bring trees into the house and decorate them although he doesn't specify what happens if you do, God is not averse to a bit of vengeance so you can expect to be on the receiving end of a good and proper smitting.
Would seem such a shame to live a life free of sin and turning your other cheek to find out the pearly gates are locked to you just because you stuck a few baubles on a conifer once a year so if you are of a religious bent it might be safer to just go with the Hello Kitty advent calendar this year or if you must, throw some tinsel over the umbrella plant and wish Jesus Happy Birthday.
Maybe that is why when he wrote his book of what you must do to get into his house in the clouds, he tried to ruin Christmas by flat out forbidding Christmas Trees in the Bible.
Jeremiah 10:2-4 specifically states:'Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not'.
That's pretty conclusive, the Lord saith don't be a heathen and bring trees into the house and decorate them although he doesn't specify what happens if you do, God is not averse to a bit of vengeance so you can expect to be on the receiving end of a good and proper smitting.
Would seem such a shame to live a life free of sin and turning your other cheek to find out the pearly gates are locked to you just because you stuck a few baubles on a conifer once a year so if you are of a religious bent it might be safer to just go with the Hello Kitty advent calendar this year or if you must, throw some tinsel over the umbrella plant and wish Jesus Happy Birthday.
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