‘India first’ is my definition of secularism, Narendra Modi tells NRIs


Denied a visa to visit US, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took to video conferencing to address Indian-American community, saying his idea of secularism is “India first”.

Modi, who often faced questions over the killing of Muslims in the post-Godhra riots in 2002, did not refer to the controversial issue in his nearly an hour-long speech in Hindi.

“My definition of secularism is simple: ‘India first’. Whatever you do, wherever you work, India should be the top priority for all its citizens,” he said.

“Country is above all religions and ideologies,” he argued and asked people to follow the same.

“I agree friends that as an Indian, as a citizen who loves India, you will also agree with my definition…We might do any work or take any decision, India should be supreme,” he said.

“Nothing less than India’s wellbeing should be our goal. And if this happens, secularism will automatically run in our blood,” the Gujarat Chief Minister said.

Modi was denied US visa on the issue of human rights violation.

Last week, the Wharton India Economic Forum cancelled Modi’s keynote address to the prestigious annual event because of opposition from a section of professors and students of the University of Pennsylvania.

But, Modi did not touch upon the controversial Wharton issue. The event organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP was planned much in advance of the Wharton controversy.

Several hundred people gathered at two places – Edison in New Jersey and Chicago – to listen to Modi’s speech.

In his address, Modi emphasised on skilled development of the youth – who now constitute 65 per cent of the total population of the country — and asked the diaspora to help in holistic development of India – tourism being one of them.

Ten Most Famous Business Cards Of Legends


In an era of Facebook, iPhone and Smartphones; the humble business card is at the brim of turning outdated. But once, the captivating business cards, of rich and famous tech tycoons, celebrities and politicians have marked a remarkable change from being pragmatic to giving an insight into their personality sticking to an old-fashioned manner but in their own unique style.

Here are the 10 famous business cards that belong to the some tech titans and celebrities which everyone would love to have a look at.

#10 Steve Jobs

There was a time when walkman was the future and iPod was outlandish. At that point of time, Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple was in immediate need of business card to flourish his business. Following, he came up with a variety of business cards in a simplistic and unique manner. He started his creation of business cards from 1979.

#9 Eric Schimdt

Eric Schimdt, according to his card holds the title of “Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO of Google”. Schimdt’s card was actually a talk of the town soon after it was created due to its typo errors. It created hype in the media because of his power and designation as the Search Giant’s CEO.

#8 Mark Zuckerberg

“I’m CEO, Bitch”, Facebook CEO and billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg, shows the world that you can get away with anything and everything when you’re the boss. The story of this title has been the talk of the town since 2009. The film “the Social Network”, based on Ben Mezrich’s book, announced the phrase to the world. Through his card, he shows that you’re the boss and can put anything on the card and no one can deny it. It marks a bold statement and presents an impression of radicalism or lack of concern and considered expression.

#7 Bill Gates

The colorful visually-appealing business card introduced by Microsoft founder and billionaire, Bill Gates. Back then, Microsoft was headquartered in Albuquerque. The card introduces the founder with a full title.  He might not carry the prestige of a former President, but his contributions to the society are far-reaching. The business card design and possibilities reached a matured stage where he has made the best use of it.

#6 Steve Wozniak

One of the coolest and most modern business cards we’ve ever seen comes from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The card is made of stainless steel with creative design and laser etching. It is custom made and includes designs, both etched and printed. It is sleek, smooth sexy lines wrapped around future-proof metal.

#5 Evan Williams

Evan Williams, the founder of several internet companies, is known to be the creator of two most popular internet websites, Blogger and Twitter. Williams’ business card carries a logo of Twitter on one side along with his name, designation and the company name where he has looked forward to make it simple. It was created soon after he was raised as the CEO of the social networking site, Twitter.

#4 Barack Obama

The Senatorial business card of Barack Obama presents a rare archive of the 2008 Presidential elections. Barack Obama, the junior United States Senator from Illinois was elected as the first African American President of the United Sates. The business card carries the patriotic raised seal of a gold eagle and his name, designation and office details as United States Senator. It guarantees authenticity as it comes with a certificate.

#3 Walt Disney

The animation giant, Walt Disney, popularly known as Disney, created a business card hand-drawn which obviously sounds and appeals cool. It provided a taste of his passion and illustrative skills on the card which shows a vivid example of who he is and what he does.

#2 Lady Gaga


Lady Gaga teamed up with Polaroid in 2011 with an aim to restore the famous brand. The company designed a business card for the pop-music star which is quite innovative and catchy. It is designed with a logo of the company in bold characters alongside her name and designation as “Creative Director”. The texts, probably supposed to be the company’s address is striked off whch have made it catchy.

#1 Albert Einstein

Known to be the father of modern Physics, Albert Einstein, had a surprisingly plain business card which hardly had any justice to his theories, his personality nor his appearance. He has mainly focused on the simplicity of the card, rather than revealing his identity and profession.

Sri Lanka opposes UN screening of critical film


Sri Lankan diplomats are working to block a British-made documentary about the Asian country’s civil war from being shown on the sidelines of a United Nations human rights meeting this week, arguing that it is part of a concerted campaign by the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels to destabilize the peace.

In a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press the island nation’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva said the film contained a narrative that was “discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.”

The letter sent Sunday by Sri Lankan ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha to the head of the U.N. Human Rights Council, warns that the global body could be violating its own rules if the film is screened March 1 in Geneva at a meeting hosted by rights groups.

The 90-minute documentary, titled “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka,” alleges government troops and Tamil Tiber rebels engaged in war crimes during the final stages of the conflict in 2009.

The film shows interviews with eyewitnesses and original footage of alleged atrocities against civilians including summary execution, sexual violence and torture. Its backers include the non-profit Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Britain’s Channel 4 television, which aired two previous documentaries on the Sri Lanka’s civil war.

“The timing and the venue of this screening clearly demonstrates that it is aimed at influencing the debate in the council on Sri Lanka,” Aryasinha said in the letter, citing the two previous films that were also shown during meetings of the Geneva-based rights body.

He said the film contained “morphed and diabolical” material aimed at undermining the process of reconciliation between Tamils and the nation’s ethnic Sinhalese majority.

The film’s director Callum Macrae acknowledged that the documentary’s release had been timed to coincide with one of the council’s three regular annual meetings, but denied that it distorted the facts.

“We believe that our film contains very important evidence about the terrible events in the last few months of this war and we believe we have a duty to make that evidence available to the diplomats and country missions at the U.N. Human Rights Council who must make important decisions about how to ensure accountability and justice in Sri Lanka,” Macrae said.

Earlier this month the U.N.’s top human rights official faulted Sri Lanka for failing to properly investigate reports of atrocities during the war and said government opponents continue to be killed and abducted.

The United States has said it will introduce a resolution at the meeting urging a full accounting of what happened at the end of the war. A U.N. report says tens of thousands of civilians were killed in the final five months of the fighting.

By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press

FiveYoga Poses That Combat Depression


One of the chapters in my life included a 10-year bout with deep depression. This depression became compounded when I was confronted with loss and grief.

I took antidepressants of varying kinds for many years and attempted talk therapy. For me, none of these approaches worked.This is not to say antidepressant medications and psychotherapy arent appropriate for some people. They just weren’t appropriate or helpful for me.

It was only when I began practicing yoga that I started to see and feel concrete, sustained shifts in my mental patterns, emotions, and internal state of being.

I Died So I Could Haunt You

Anxiety disorders, including depression, are the most common mental illness in the United States.

Many people suffer in silence, not realizing anything is wrong. Thoughts such as, “This is just how I am,” that feeling depressed is normal, or that nothing can make things better can keep people from seeking help.

While it’s normal for everyone to get the blues or feel dishearted or depressed from the loss of a loved one, when these feelings last for more than two weeks and start to interfere with daily functioning and activities, this can be termed a “major depressive episode,” according to the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America).

There are differing opinions on the cause of depression, but research supports the idea that depression may stem from the mind.

Yoga’s unique mind-body approach is being used more and more to reduce stress in cases of PTSD, treat depression, and to enhance overall well-being.

The following three studies provide some insight into the benefits of yoga for depression and anxiety:

  • One study reported that GABA levels increased after a session of yoga in experienced practitioners. GABA acts as a neurotransmitter which inhibits nerve transmission to the brain, resulting in calming and quieting the mind.
  • In another study of women suffering from mental distress, the women showed “significant improvements on measures of stress and psychological outcomes” after participating in a 3-month Iyengar yoga class.
  • 13 psychiatric inpatients were studied to determine the effects of yoga on mood. Participants reported significant improvements in tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, and confusion-bewilderment.

Yoga asana can be a powerful practice for depression or anxiety, and a key component of this is the breath.

The breathing used in yoga, such as Ujjayi, calms our stress response system and contributes to a state of calm. The result is a mind-body connection that can have far-reaching effects.

There are many yoga poses that individually can be helpful, but an integrated, regular yoga practice, including meditation, can reconnect you with your true essence and your inherent wholeness. In that space of “being,” there is a release of attachment to our worries, problems, fears, or circumstances.

Here are five poses that can specifically help with depression:

Forward fold (Uttanasana). In Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says about Uttanasana, “Any depression felt in the mind is removed if one holds the pose for two minutes or more.”

Head-to-Knee Forward Bend (Janu Sirsasana). This seated forward fold is calming for the mind, stretches the hamstrings and groin, and stimulates the liver and kidneys [1].

Cobra (Bhujangasana). This backbend can be done in stages. It expands the chest and gives elasticity to the lungs [1].

Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) . Bridge pose is a backbend that strengthens the legs, opens the chest, and stimulates the abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid. Supported bridge, done with a block under your sacrum, is a nourishing restorative version.

Supported Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana). Sirsasana is called the “king of all asanas.” [1] Inversions literally turn your world upside down and give your brain cells a fresh supply of blood. Attention and presence are essential in this pose and thus a great way to pause your thoughts and renew your perspective. Restorative versions of sirsasansa, done with props, are an option as well.

These are just a few of my favorites. I’m also sharing a hip and hamstring practice by Kia Miller on Gaiam TV below. Opening the hips and hamstrings is a powerful practice that can release energetic blocks and allow our bodies and minds to function from a more balanced, open place.

By Monique Minahan

10 Most Expensive Single Objects in the World


10. Oresund Bridge (Cost:$6 Billion)

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The Øresund or Öresund Bridge  is a combined twin-track railroad and four-lane highway bridge-tunnel across the Öresund strait. The Øresund Bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest highway and railroad bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the Danish capital city of Copenhagen and the major Swedish city of Malmö. Furthermore, the Øresund Bridge connects the highway network of Scandinavia with those of Central and Western Europe.

  • Official name: Øresundsbroen, Öresundsbron
  • Carries: Four lanes of European route E20 Double track Oresund Railway Line
  • Locale: Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden
  • Designer: Georg Rotne
  • Design: Cable-stayed bridge
  • Total length: 7,845 metres (25,738 ft)
  • Width: 23.5 metres (77.1 ft)
  • Longest span: 490 metres (1,608 ft)
  • Cost: $6 Billion
  • Country: Denmark, Sweden
  • Year of completion: 2000

9.Large Hadron Collider (Cost: $6 Billion)

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The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator. It is expected that it will address themost fundamental questions of physics, advancing our understanding of the deepest laws of nature.

The LHC lies in a tunnel 27 kilometres (17 mi) in circumference, as much as 175 metres (574 ft) beneath the Franco-Swiss border nearGeneva, Switzerland. This synchrotron is designed to collide opposing particle beams of either protons at an energy of 7 teraelectronvolts(1.12 microjoules) per particle, or lead nuclei at an energy of 574 TeV (92.0 µJ) per nucleus. The term hadron refers to particles composed of quarks.

  • Country: Switzerland
  • Year of completion: 2008
  • Cost: $6 Billion

 

8. ITER – Experimental Fusion Reactor (Cost: $6.5 Billion)

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ITER - International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is an international tokamak (magnetic confinement fusion) research/engineering project that could help to make the transition from today’s studies of plasmaphysics to future electricity-producing fusion power plants. It builds on research done with devices such as DIII-D,EAST, ADITYA, KSTAR, TFTR, ASDEX Upgrade, Joint European Torus, JT-60, Tore Supra and T-15.

  • Country: China, European Union, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, United States
  • Year of completion: 2016 (expected)
  • Cost: $6.5 Billion

7. Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant(Cost: $7.2 Billion)

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The Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant is on Olkiluoto Island, which is on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia in the municipality of Eurajoki in western Finland. It is one of Finland’s two nuclear power plants, the other being the two-unitVVER Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant.

The Olkiluoto plant consists of two BWRs with 860 MWe each. These were supplied by ASEA-Atom, now a part of ABB Group. The plant is operated by Teollisuuden Voima, a subsidiary of Pohjolan Voima. Unit three, the first EPR (European Pressurized water Reactor) is under construction, but various problems with workmanship and supervision have created costly delays, and been the subject of an inquiry by the Finnish nuclear regulator STUK.A  license for a fourth reactor to be built at the site was granted by the Finnish parliament in July 2010.

  • Country: Finland
  • Year of completion : 2012 (expected)
  • Cost: $7.2 Billion

6. Alaska Pipeline (Cost: $8 Billion)

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The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), includes the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the Valdez Marine Terminal. It is commonly called the Alaska Pipeline, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, or Alyeska Pipeline, (or the Pipeline as referred to in Alaska), but those terms technically apply only to the 800.302 miles (1,287.961 km) of the pipleline with the diameter of 48 inches (122 cm) that conveys oil from Prudhoe Bay, to Valdez, Alaska. The crude oil pipeline is privately owned by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

The pipeline was built between 1974 and 1977 after the 1973 oil crisis caused a sharp rise in oil prices in the United States. This rise made exploration of the Prudhoe Bay oil field economically feasible. Environmental, legal, and political debates followed the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, and the pipeline was built only after the oil crisis provoked the passage of legislation designed to remove legal challenges to the project.

  • Country :United State
  • Year of completion : 1977
  • Cost: $8 Billion

5. CVN-78 Class Aircraft Carrier (Cost: $8.1 Billion)

DCS04-80-2  Northrop Grumman Newport News  file

The CVN-78-class aircraft carriers (or Ford-class) are a planned class of supercarrier for the United States Navy, intended to replace the current Nimitz-class carriers. The new vessels will use a hull design very similar to the Nimitz carriers, but many aspects of the design will be very different, implementing new technologies developed since the initial design of the previous class (such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System), as well as other design features intended to improve efficiency and running costs, including a reduced crew requirement. The first hull of the line will be named Gerald R. Ford, and will have the hull number CVN-78.

  • Country : United States
  • Year of completion : 2015 (expected)
  • Cost: $8.1 Billion

4. James Bay Project ( Cost: 13.8 billion)

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The James Bay Project refers to the construction by state-owned utility Hydro-Québec of a series of hydroelectric power stations on the La Grande River in northwestern Quebec, Canada, and the diversion of neighbouring rivers into the La Grande watershed. It is located between James Bay to the west and Labrador to the east and its waters flow from the Laurentian Plateau of the Canadian Shield. The project covers an area of the size of the State of New York and is one of the largest hydroelectric systems in the world. The project has cost upwards of $13 billion US to build and has an installed generating capacity of 16,000 megawatts, three times more than all of the power stations at Niagara Falls, eight times the power of Hoover Dam, and over twice the power of all eight reactors units at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, the largest in North America. If fully expanded to include all of the original planned dams, as well as the additional “James Bay II” projects, the system would generate a total of 27,000 MW, making it the largest hydroelectric system in the world.

  • Country : Canada
  • Year of completion : 1972
  • Cost: 13.8 billion

3. Three Gorges Dam(Cost: $25 Billion)

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The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in the Yiling District of Yichang, in Hubei province, China. It is the world’s largest electricity-generating plant of any kind.

The dam body was completed in 2006. Except for a ship lift, the originally planned components of the project were completed on October 30, 2008 when the 26th generator in the shore plant began commercial operation. Each generator has a capacity of 700 MW.Six additional generators in the underground power plant are not expected to become fully operational until 2011.

  • Country : China
  • Year of completion : 2011 (expected)
  • Cost: $25 Billion

 

2. Itaipu Dam (Cost: $27 Billion)

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The Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. The name “Itaipu” was taken from an isle that existed near the construction site. In the Guarani language, Itaipu means “the sound of a stone”. The American composer Philip Glass has also written a symphonic cantata named Itaipu, in honour of the structure.

The dam is the largest operating hydroelectric facility in terms of annual generating capacity, generating 94.7 TWh in 2008 and 91.6 TWh in 2009, while the annual generating capacity of the Three Gorges Dam was 80.8 TWh in 2008 and 79.4 TWh in 2009. It is a binational undertaking run by Brazil and Paraguay at the Paraná River on the border section between the two countries, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the Friendship Bridge. The project ranges from Foz do Iguaçu, in Brazil, and Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, in the south to Guaíra and Salto del Guaíra in the north. The installed generation capacity of the plant is 14 GW, with 20 generating units providing 700 MW each with a hydraulic design head of 118 m. In 2008 the plant generated a record 94.68 billion kWh, supplying 90% of the energy consumed by Paraguay and 19% of that consumed by Brazil.

  • Country : Brazil, Paraguay
  • Year of completion : 1984
  • Cost: $27 Billion

1. International Space Station(Cost: $157 Billion)

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The International Space Station (ISS) is an internationally developed research facility that is being assembled in low Earth orbit. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998 and is scheduled for completion by late 2011. The station is expected to remain in operation until at least 2015, and likely 2020. With a greater mass than that of any previous space station, the ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye, and is by far the largest artificial satellite that has ever orbited Earth. The ISS serves as a research laboratory that has a microgravity environment in which crews conduct experiments in biology, chemistry, human biology, physics, astronomy and meteorology. The station has a unique environment for the testing of the spacecraft systems that will be required for missions to the Moon and Mars.The ISS is operated by Expedition crews, with the station programme maintaining an uninterrupted human presence in space since the launch of Expedition 1 on 31 October 2000, a total of 9 years and 262 days.

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  • Country : Canada, European Space Agency, Japan, Russia, United States
  • Year of completion : 2011 (expected)
  • Cost: $157 Billion

North Korea tells China of fresh nuclear tests


North Korea has told its key ally, China, that it is prepared to stage one or even two more nuclear tests this year in an effort to force the United States into diplomatic talks with Pyongyang, said a source with direct knowledge of the message.

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Further tests could also be accompanied this year by another rocket launch, said the source who has direct access to the top levels of government in both Beijing and Pyongyang.

The isolated regime conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday, drawing global condemnation and a stern warning from the United States that it was a threat and a provocation.

“It’s all ready. A fourth and fifth nuclear test and a rocket launch could be conducted soon, possibly this year,” the source said, adding that the fourth nuclear test would be much larger than the third at an equivalent of 10 kilotons of TNT.

The tests will be undertaken, the source said, unless Washington holds talks with North Korea and abandons its policy of what Pyongyang sees as attempts at regime change.

North Korea also reiterated its long-standing desire for the United States to sign a final peace agreement with it and establish diplomatic relations, he said. The North remains technically at war with both the United States and South Korea after the Korean war ended in 1953 with a truce.

Initial estimates of this week’s test from South Korea’s military put its yield at the equivalent of 6-7 kilotons, although a final assessment of yield and what material was used in the explosion may be weeks away.

North Korea’s latest test, its third since 2006, prompted warnings from Washington and others that more sanctions would be imposed on the isolated state. The UN Security Council has only just tightened sanctions on Pyongyang after it launched a long-range rocket in December.

The North is banned under UN sanctions from developing missile or nuclear technology after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.

North Korea worked to ready its nuclear test site, about 100 km from its border with China, throughout last year, according to commercially available satellite imagery. The images show that it may have already prepared for at least one more test, beyond Tuesday’s subterranean explosion.

“Based on satellite imagery that showed there were the same activities in two tunnels, they have one tunnel left after the latest test,” said Kune Y Suh, a nuclear engineering professor at Seoul National University in South Korea.

Analysis of satellite imagery released on Friday by specialist North Korea website 38North showed activity at a rocket site that appeared to indicate it was being prepared for an upcoming launch.

NORTH ‘NOT AFRAID’ OF SANCTIONS

President Barack Obama pledged after this week’s nuclear test “to lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats” and diplomats at the UN Security Council have already started discussing potential new sanctions.

The North has said the test this week was a reaction to what it said was “US hostility” following its December rocket launch. Critics say the rocket launch was aimed at developing technology for an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“(North) Korea is not afraid of (further) sanctions,” the source said. “It is confident agricultural and economic reforms will boost grain harvests this year, reducing its food reliance on China.”

North Korea’s isolated and small economy has few links with the outside world apart from China, its major trading partner and sole influential diplomatic ally.

China signed up for sanctions after the 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests and for a UN Security Council resolution passed in January to condemn the latest rocket launch. However, Beijing has stopped short of abandoning all support for Pyongyang.

Sanctions have so far not discouraged North Korea from pursuing its nuclear ambitions, analysts said.

“It is like watching the same movie over and over again,” said Lee Woo-young, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

“The idea that stronger sanctions make North Korea stop developing nuclear programmes isn’t effective in my view.”

The source with ties to Beijing and Pyongyang said China would again support UN sanctions. He declined to comment on what level of sanctions Beijing would be willing to endorse.

“When China supported UN sanctions … (North) Korea angrily called China a puppet of the United States,” he said. “There will be new sanctions which will be harsh. China is likely to agree to it,” he said, without elaborating.

He said however that Beijing would not cut food and fuel supplies to North Korea, a measure that it reportedly took after a previous nuclear test.

He said North Korea’s actions were a distraction for China’s leadership, which was concerned the escalations could inflame public opinion in China and hasten military build-ups in the region.

The source said that he saw little room for compromise under North Korea’s youthful new leader, Kim Jong-un. The third Kim to rule North Korea is just 30 years old and took over from his father in December 2011.

He appears to have followed his father, Kim Jong-il, in the “military first” strategy that has pushed North Korea ever closer to a workable nuclear missile at the expense of economic development.

“He is much tougher than his father,” the source said.

– Reuters

#Obamacare will cost the average American family $20,000 a year


The cheapest plan for family will cost $20,000 per year.

American families will be forced to buy conventional health insurance that primarily benefits the pharmaceutical industry under Obamacare. By 2016 the cheapest health insurance plan available will cost a typical American family $20,000 a year, according to the IRS.

 

Here’s the news: The IRS just published descriptions of the financial penalties American taxpayers will pay if they fail to purchase the rip-off health insurance mandated under Obamacare.

“The examples point to families of four and families of five, both of which the IRS expects in its assumptions to pay a minimum of $20,000 per year for a bronze plan,” reports CNS News.

It goes on to report, “The IRS’s assumption that the cheapest plan for family will cost $20,000 per year is found in examples the IRS gives to help people understand how to calculate the penalty they will need to pay the government if they do not buy a mandated health plan.”

We warned ya: Obamacare has always been a financial scam

For the record, we here at Natural News repeatedly warned people about the Obamacare scam, describing how it was a forced taxpayer handout to Big Pharma and the dangerous sick-care industry which kills 783,000 Americans a year.

Over the last few years, critics of my reporting on this subject insisted we were “conspiracy theorists” and that Obamacare would offer free health care to nearly everyone! Those who still had to buy health insurance would see rates go down, we were told by hypnotized, Kool-Aid-drinking Obama supporters. That’s why Obamacare is called the “Affordable Care Act,” after all.

 

How could it be called the “Affordable Care Act” if it wasn’t going to be affordable, they insisted.

So now the truth comes out. Obamacare is a total scam, a complete rip-off, a massive handout to Big Pharma and a disaster to the U.S. wage earner. Obamacare is going to bankrupt America. Every family, small business owner and corporations is going to be financially suffocated under this burden, to the point where tens of millions simply surrender to the system, get on welfare, and become lifelong Democrats voting for larger and larger handouts.

I hate to say it, but once again I told ya so. Did you really think Obama was going to save money for the voters and make Big Pharma’s profits go down? Seriously? (Don’t be so gullible…)

Obamacare was always designed, from the very start, to loot the American taxpayer and put government in a position of monopolistic power over your health care decisions. This is the move toward fascism that’s going to absolutely gut America and put millions of people on the street, homeless, jobless and diseased.

Who can afford $20,000 a year in health insurance?

Like everything else Obama has tried to shoved down America’s throat, the Affordable Care Act is an outright catastrophe. It funnels hundreds of billions of dollars into the coffers of health insurance companies, vaccine manufacturers and drug companies, but it does absolutely NOTHING to help the American people.

Obamacare is, ultimately, nothing more than a financial racket enforced at gunpoint by the government itself. It’s Big Pharma looting your pockets while an armed government IRS agent stands by and nods approval.

Obamacare is institutionalized looting of the paychecks and bank accounts of the American people. It is the equivalent of being mugged at knifepoint with the demand, “Your wallet or your life.” In the case of Obamacare, however, you lose both your wallet and your life!

Impeach Obama, repeal Obamacare, end the medical monopoly that’s crushing America

It’s time those of us who stand for true liberty and justice in America stopped playing so nice. The people who are pushing Obamacare, the NDAA, citizen disarmament and other similar schemes are traitors to America. They need to be removed from power immediately.

But that’s only the beginning: Why doesn’t the FTC investigate the pharmaceutical monopoly enforced by the FDA in which drug companies earn 60,000% profit markups on their FDA-approved drugs?

State medical boards need to be entirely disbanded, as they criminalize alternative medicine, holistic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic and other forms of healing.

The health insurance scam needs to be eviscerated. Its only purpose is to earn more money for health insurance companies and pharmaceutical interests. The system cares nothing for the American people, and it is based entirely on profit, not compassion or human dignity.

The cancer industry, with all its corrupt nonprofits, is a criminal racket that’s operated much like a mafia. Under the RICO Act, much of modern medicine could be shut down, unleashing the free market forces of alternative and complementary medicine which can provide safe, effective and low-cost health care to the entire nation.

But this is not allowed by Obama. Nor was it allowed under Bush, who conspired with Big Pharma to keep drug prices ridiculously high, soaking Medicare for hundreds of billions of dollars. Time and time again, every U.S. President is a health care sellout, and no one sold it out more completely than Obama.

The more this man does, the worse it gets. Let me ask you this: How are you going to come up with $20,000 a year to pay for health insurance?

Oh wait, let me guess: You think your job is going to buy it for you? Think again: U.S. employers are increasingly offshoring jobs precisely to avoid these costs. So you’re more likely than ever to find yourself unemployed by 2016. All across America, employers are responding to Obamacare mandates by slashing the weekly work hours of employees. U.S. businesses that used to thrive at full production are now experiencing severe shortages because they simply can’t afford to cover Obamacare costs for full-time employees.

Obamacare is absolutely gutting America’s economy it is must be repealed as soon as possible to stop the hemorrhaging of U.S. jobs.

10 solutions for real health care in America

You want a real health care solution? Here are 10 commonsense points:

1) Arrest all Big Pharma CEOs and top executives who have been involved in felony crimes, price fixing, doctor bribery, experiments on children and so on.

2) Outlaw vaccines additives such as mercury, aluminum, MSG and formaldehyde.

3) Decriminalize natural medicine and stop prosecuting alternative cancer doctors.

4) Abolish the FDA and end the drug monopoly cartel. Restore the free market to medicine.

5) Halt all Medicare and Medicaid payments to drug companies, hospitals and health insurance companies. Instead, issue patients VOUCHERS that they can spend in any way they wish, to receive whatever form of care works for them. This would restore the free market to medicine, where competition would drive down prices and spur improved patient outcomes.

6) End all intellectual property claims on genes and medicines. Break Big Pharma’s insidious cycle of inventing fictitious diseases and then marketing those fake diseases in order to sell deadly chemicals to a gullible public. Medicine belongs in the public domain, not in the hands of the greedy few.

7) Break the chain of influence between drug companies and medical journals, medical schools and the media. Outlaw drug money influence over all these institutions. Prosecute doctors for bribery if they have accepted money, gifts or free vacations from Big Pharma.

8) Decriminalize free speech about nutritional supplements, herbal remedies and natural therapies. Allow makers of natural products to tell the truth about the healing benefits of their products.

9) Encourage states to pass “medical freedom zone” laws that nullify federal laws concerning health care in their particular states. Openly allow the practice of alternative cancer therapies, nutritional therapies, etc. Turn your state into a medical tourism destination for all Americans!

10) End the artificial legal protections of Big Pharma and the vaccine industry. Restore due process rights to patients who have been harmed by drugs or vaccines. Only through this will drug companies clean up their act and stop killing to many people.

WTO grants Antigua right to launch ‘pirate’ site selling US media


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The World Trade Organisation has granted Antigua and Barbuda the right to sell US media downloads without compensating its makers, after allowing a suspension of US intellectual property rights in the Caribbean country.

The ruling, made at a WTO meeting in Geneva, comes five years after the trade body gave Antigua preliminary permission for the suspension, which would allow the country to potentially sell US-made music, TV shows and films to the rest of the world (up to a copyright value of $21 million (£13 million) annually).

Speaking to Wired.co.uk Antigua’s legal representative Mark Mendel of Mendel Blumenfeld said he could not release any details on when we might see a website go live, but that “we are definitely working on it and are hopeful that the US will choose to negotiate fairly and honestly in the very near future so that we do not ultimately have to implement the remedy”.

The act would not be, as the US is arguing, “theft” or “government-authorised piracy”, but a legitimate means for the Caribbean island to make back some of the billions in earnings lost when the US violated a free-trade agreement that forced Antigua to shutdown its online gambling industry — reportedly putting five percent of the island’s 90,000-strong population out of work. The US continues to refuse to lift this blockade.

“This is probably the most appalling thing to come out of the last couple of days,” Mendel told Wired.co.uk, referring to the derogatory accusations made by the US. “For the US to resort to this untrue, unhelpful and irresponsible rhetoric and dissembling when one of the smallest countries in the world has used, to the letter, the processes of the WTO to get a remedy endorsed by international law to enforce a clear and unambiguous violation of international law by the US. I really am shocked by this, and had expected better of the Obama administration. In essence, they are saying that the US will punish or retaliate against a small country for pursuing its legal rights. Really incredible, sad and reminiscent of the worst of colonial thinking.

“As we said yesterday, ‘when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose’, and at this point I believe the Antiguan people and government are at the end of their respective tethers.”

The saga began when the US did a U-turn on its General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) schedule, which allowed cross-border online gambling. In a limitlessly condescending statement to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, the US reduced its actions — actions that led to the loss of billions of dollars and the closure of an entire industry — to nothing more than an unfortunate mishap.

“As the United States has explained in the past, the United States never intended gambling and betting services to be included in its schedule under the GATS,” it stated, blaming the misunderstanding on “ambiguities in drafting”. Its intentions, or lack thereof, are irrelevant. In 2005 the WTO ruled that by backtracking on the terms of its GATS schedule, the US had violated free-trade agreements.

Under Article 22.3 of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding if a nation has suffered losses because of violation of a WTO agreement, it has the right to seek retribution under a different agreement, if retaliation under the initial agreement “is not practicable or effective”.

“Recourse to higher tariffs on goods, or the blocking of goods and services, would not be practicable because the volume of trade is so small that American businesses could easily divert to other markets and in general, to retaliate in goods or services would — to the extent those goods and services remained available — only punish Antiguan consumers,” explained Mendel.

Therefore Antigua sought to cross-retaliate under Article 22 using the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, which the WTO allowed in 2007.

Such a ruling has been passed before, but no nation has ever actually acted on. However Antigua appears not to have received any kind of meaningful negotiations with the US (in spite of what the latter argues in its statement) so has decided to go ahead.

“The United States is disappointed with Antigua and Barbuda’s misplaced decision to abandon constructive settlement discussions and to pursue authorisation to suspend concessions or other obligations,” said the US, before delivering a mild threat/dig: “This course will not achieve a positive outcome for the Antiguan economy or people and will make resolution of this longstanding matter more difficult.”

According to Mendel, the US made no attempts to remedy the situation or offer compensation that might warrant such an arrogant response.

“Let me be clear on this — the US has offered nothing in settlement other than the same terms they have offered to other countries if the US gets to amend the treaty to not cover remote gaming, none of which would be useful to Antigua and none of which were negotiated with Antigua (it was basically a US/EU negotiation). Antigua has presented all of the proposed settlement terms, and rather than being rejected by Antigua, all have been either rejected or ignored by the US. It may be hard for many of your readers to believe, but in this case I can give my assurances that the United States is simply being untruthful.”

As with other nations which secured cross-retaliation permission from the WTO, Antigua hopes not to have to follow through. The threat could be enough to put Antigua in good stead for further negotiations considering, if it goes through with launching a download portal for international consumption, there’s nothing to say other far bigger wronged nations wouldn’t be tempted to do the same — and for a higher cost to the US. The whole affair does however show the US in a poor light, considering such measures had to be taken just to get them to the negotiating table. One related Wikileak document dated 2007, reportedly from the US Secretary of State’s office, appears to prove the focus rested mainly on the EU’s position; the US marginalised Antigua, which featured as a mere afterthought: “At a minimum, we are urging the EU to refrain from joining any arbitration which Antigua and Barbuda may request,” the document reads.

“We are not expecting this remedy to be anything other than a means to an end,” said Mendel. “Once put in place, it will, however, not even begin to compensate for the job and economic losses from the wrecking of the gaming industry.”

Mendel says the US has just two options now — comply, or work out a settlement. It can only take its case to the WTO if Antigua implements the ruling incorrectly.

Why then, has the US pursued such a futile course of action, failing to engage in any real negotiations on level-footing with Antigua and resorting to condescending and unproductive rhetoric that does not appear to take the WTO’s legitimacy and authority into account?

“I do think that the US has a mixed, immature and difficult domestic situation with respect to gambling in general and remote gambling in particular,” Mendel told Wired.co.uk. “However, I think the main reason the US has not complied with the WTO rulings is that Antigua is such a small country they think they can get away with it. I also think that, unfortunately, some people in the US government were almost offended that Antigua chose to challenge the US and have been so persistent in its pursuit of justice that the US government has adopted unusually harsh and unyielding lines that have made it difficult to consider our issue in its proper context.”

Image: Shutterstock / Author – Liat Clark

India continues to press for extradition of American who masterminded terrorist attack in Mumbai


India said that it would continue to press for the extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley, sentenced by a US court to 35 years in prison for his role in the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, and would have sought more punishment had he been tried here, France Press said.

A day after the Chicago court ruling, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said: “Had we tried him we would have sought much more.”

“We are a little disappointed as we wanted that he should have been brought here and tried as the real loss has been of India. It would have been appropriate if he would have been tried here,” Khurshid told reports in Delhi.

The American citizen of Pakistani origin David Headley was found guilty for his links with terrorists and masterminding the attack in Mumbai that killed 166 people. He pleaded guilty and co-operated with the US to avoid the death penalty and extradition to India.

American officials excluded the possibility of imposing death penalty and extradition to India despite appeals made by New Delhi.

This is what you call a Train Set!


This is the world’s biggest train set which covers 1,150 square meters (12,380 square feet), features almost six miles of track and is still not complete

Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, began work on the ‘Miniatur Wunderland‘ in 2000
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The set covers six regions including America , Switzerland , Scandinavia , Germany and the Austrian Alps

The American section features giant models of the Rocky Mountains, Everglades, Grand Canyon

…and Mount Rushmore

The Swiss section has a mini-Matterhorn

The Scandinavian part has a 4ft long passenger ship floating in a ‘fjord’

It is expected to be finished in 2014, when the train set will cover more than 1,800 square meters (19, 376 sq ft)and feature almost 13 miles of track, by which time detailed models of parts of France, Italy and the UK will have been added

It comprises 700 trains with more than 10,000 carriages and wagons

The longest train is 46ft long

The scenery includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars – many with illuminated headlights…

…and 160,000 individually designed figures

Thousands of kilograms of steel and wood was used to construct the scenery…

The 250,000 lights are rigged up to a system which mimics night and day by automatically turning them on and off

The whole system is controlled from a massive high-tech nerve centre

In total the set has taken 500,000 hours and more than �8 million to put together, the vast majority of which has come from ticket sales

Gerrit said: “Our idea was to build a world that men, woman, and children can be equally astonished and amazed in”

Frederik added: “Whether gambling in Las Vegas , hiking in the Alps or paddling in Norwegian fjords – in Wunderland everything is possible”The world’s biggest model train set.
TALK ABOUT YOUR SECOND CHILDHOOD—–“BOYS” AND THEIR TOYS….