Real News: March 5 Mashup

Bayard & Holmes

~ Piper Bayard

Real News Mashup is a compilation of articles that I consider to be interesting, informative, or both. Please share articles of your own in the comments. Perhaps if we work together, we can remember that the world is bigger than the propaganda storm.

 

 

Things That Might Make You Want to Slap Someone

Why the US Supreme Court’s New Ruling on Excessive Fines is a Big Deal — German Lopez, Vox

Today’s Supreme Court rarely hands down a unanimous ruling. This is one of them.

 

“Dear Attorney General Barr”: Advice from Insiders — Sheryl Attkisson, The Hill

I found this list compiled by several lifelong veterans of the military and intelligence communities. They were asked the question, “What should be Attorney General Barr’s top priorities?” These are their answers. 

 

 

Saudis Prepare Trials of Detainees Identified as Women’s Rights Activists —   Hesham Hajali, Reuters

In other words, Saudi women can now drive under limited conditions in Saudi Arabia, but those who fought for the right are now being prosecuted. And just to make sure none of the Saudi women forget they are still chattel in the Sharia Law kingdom . . .

 

Google, Siding with Saudi Arabia, Refuses to Remove Widely-Criticized Government App That Lets Men Track Women and Control Their Travels — Bill Bostock, Business Insider

 

US-Backed Forces Launch What Could Be the Last Major Battle Against ISIS in Syria — Small Wars Journal, Articles by Liz Sly of The Washington Post and Gordon Lubold of The Wall Street Journal

 

Venezuela’s Suicide: Lessons from a Failed State — Moisés Naím and Francisco Toro, Foreign Affairs

Forty years ago, Venezuela had a thriving economy. Now, millions rush to escape the failed state. It took decades to get from Point A to Point B, and the journey has many lessons for the rest of us.

 

DIA Mole Ana Montes
FBI mug shot, public domain

 

Ana Montes Did Much Harm Spying for Cuba. Chances Are, You Haven’t Heard of Her. — Jim Popkin, The Washington Post  

 

China Is Building Soft Power In US Schools — Rachel Oswald, Roll Call

 

Smart Home Assistants, Like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod, Might Soon Report Their Owners to the Police for Breaking the Law — Charlie Nash, Breitbart

 

Now Facebook is Allowing Anyone to Look You Up Using Your Security Phone Number — Michael Grothaus, Fast Company   

Facebook does not allow anyone to opt out, but the article has instructions in the last paragraph to limit access to your phone number to “friends.”

 

Seeding Control to Big Agriculture — Gracy Olmstead, The American Conservative

In the Canada Has Lost Its Flaming Mind Department . . .

 

Defending Yourself Against a Home Invader Is Now a Criminal Offense in Canada — Lance D. Johnson, News Target

 

Police In Canada Are Tracking People’s “Negative” Behavior In a “Risk” Database — Nathan Munn, ViceI

“Information in the database includes whether a person uses drugs, has been the victim of an assault, or lives in a ‘negative neighborhood.'” . . . What’s next? A Citizenship Score? IMHO, a road to hell soundly paved with the good intentions of decent Canadians.

 

Stepping Back from the Edge . . .

From Bombers to Big Macs: Vietnam A Lesson In Reconciliation — Denis D. Gray and Hau Dinh, Associated Press

 

The Disease of More — Mark Manson, Mark Manson  

 

Meet the Skier Who Made the “Impossible” First Solo Descent of K2 — Aaron Teasdale, National Geographic

 

8 Etiquette Tips for Social Receptions at Conferences — Lenny Zeltser, Lenny Zeltser

 

 

A Message in a Bottle Washed Up on Padre island–57 Years Later  — Dan Soloman, Texas Monthly

 

And These are Just Fun . . .

 

Couple Who Served in WWII Together, Married Seven Decades, Pass Away on Same Day  — Healthy Food House

 

Game of Thrones First Look: Inside the Brutal Battle to Make Season 8 — James Hibberd, Entertainment

 

Hadrian’s Wall Archeologists Discover Rude Grafitti and Pictures of Roman Quarrymen Who Built It — Patrick Sawer, The Telegraph

 

The funniest thing that happened this week, unless you are Russian. Watch as the Russian freighter Seaguard plows into this bridge in Busan, South Korea. . . . No injuries or deaths reported, so laugh away!

 

All the best to all of you for a week of avoiding the obvious obstacles.

 *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *   *   *   *   *   *

Rules of Engagement:

We want comments.

Thoughtful disagreement fosters intellectual growth for all of us. Civil Discourse is strictly enforced. That means you can say anything as long as you focus on the concepts and say it with respect, free of personal insults.

Bayard & Holmes reserve the right to remove comments for any reason.

 *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

 

What do the main intelligence agencies do and where do they operate? How do they recruit personnel? What are real life honey pots and sleeper agents? What about truth serums and enhanced interrogations? And what are the most common foibles of popular spy fiction?

With the voice of over forty years experience in the Intelligence Community, Bayard & Holmes answer these questions and share information on espionage history, firearms of spycraft, tradecraft, and the personal challenges of the people behind the myths. Order now at Amazon and Kobo. 

 

 

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Candidate “None of These” Takes Nevada Primary

By Piper Bayard

I 100% applaud the people of Nevada. The first step to creating better government is to stop accepting the crap that the two self-serving parties keep trying to shove down our throats. Nevada, you rock!

 

Nevada Democrats Chose “None of These Candidates” in Primary

 

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Starting with something quite serious today. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is being held in Mexico on weapons charges. On March 31, 2014, he was attempting to meet his friends in San Ysidro for dinner, and he missed the exit, landing him at the Mexican border. This is not uncommon. With no chance to turn around, the first thing he told the border officials was that he wasn’t trying to enter Mexico, and that he was just trying to turn around and get back to San Ysidro. He was completely up front about the three legal firearms in his possession. These facts are not disputed. He was arrested and tossed into prison in Tijuana. He has recently been relocated to a prison in Tecate.

 

U.S.M.C. Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi

 

Sgt. Tahmooressi served two deployments in Afghanistan, was honorably discharged, and was being treated in San Diego for PTSD. Unfortunately, as of June 19, in spite of numerous petitions and a media outcry, our administration has exhibited virtually no interest in bringing back our Marine.

For more information, see Why is a US Marine in a Mexican Jail? The Case of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi and US Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi Stuck in Mexican Jail on Gun Charges.

I’m not big on petitions, but I did sign this one. Demand Release of U.S.M.C. Sgt. Tahmooressi Suffering with PTSD from Mexico Imprisonment. We can also help on social media by using the hashtag #bringbackourmarine to keep it trending and raise awareness that this travesty has occurred.

And on lighter notes . . .

Myndi Shafer clues us in on the Summer Book Crush — over 80 Book Boyfriend Flings by over 30 authors for just $0.99. Summer Book Crush

 

 

If there’s anything I’ve learned from our editor, NYT Bestseller Ellie Ann, it’s that perfectionism doesn’t pay. Kassandra Lamb helps folks deal this this career-stunting problem. Hi, I’m Kass, and I’m a Recovering Perfectionist

5 Things I Learned as an Anonymous TSA Blogger by Jason Edward Harrington.

Susan Spann reminds us of the power of simple kindnesses. The Postman Always Waves Twice

DD, Michael Rooker, and Piper
Denver Comic Con June 2014

 

Note of Interest: I had a cool weekend at the Denver Comic Con. DD and I got to hang out with Human Echoes podcaster Tony Southcotte and NYT Bestseller Ellie Ann, as well as friends and fellow authors Juliette Terzieff and Jinxie Gervasio. Also had a nice surprise in the form of dinner with Michael Rooker. He’s not just Merle Dixon, zombie killer from The Walking Dead, but also a Southern gentleman and a lovely man with whom to spend an evening. Be sure to catch his upcoming movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he plays bad guy Yondu.

Travel to Japan with Mihael Herrera. Travel Day — Visit to Mt. Takao

We lost a radio icon this week. Casey Kasem, the voice of Shaggy on “Scooby-Doo” and the DJ who gave my generation America’s Top 40 Countdown each week has passed on to that Great Sound Booth in the Sky. Jenny Hansen of More Cowbell called my attention to this fitting tribute, In Honor of Casey Kasem, Counting Down Baseball’s Best Songs.

And for Game of Thrones fans, George R.R. Martin is now on Twitter at @GRRMspeaking.

We fans have a message for you, George . . .

Campaign Style Poll of the Week

All the best to all of you for a week of satisfying choices.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Bride Ties Baby to Wedding Dress

By Piper Bayard

Woman Ties Baby to Wedding Dress,

Drags Her Down Aisle

As a mother who sat her kids in a roasting pan and pulled them around the living room, I can’t honestly think this was anything but a good time for a baby. She appears to be secure and not getting any rug burns. But one question does come to mind . . . Was she the something “new” or the something “borrowed”?

Big thanks to historical mystery author K.B. Owen for pointing me to this gem.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Peace Day and the Fallen Project. A group in Normandy remembers D-Day with a beautiful tribute. They draw 9,000 figures in the sand on the beach to represent the 9,000 that died during the Allied Invasion of Nazi-Occupied France.

Via Professional Organizer Judith Houlding of Space Editing, What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades. It’s long been my contention that we no longer need Code Talkers. At this point, we can convey messages in the ancient style of cursive writing, and even the NSA won’t be able to figure them out.

A courageous post and fantastic comments discussion from Jamie Gold. The Danger of Political Correctness for Diverse Books

And speaking of diversity . . .  Ginger Problems that Normal People Don’t Understand.

Via Angela Ackerman, co-author of the outstanding Emotion Thesaurus Series, 22 Pictures Where I Have Absolutely No Idea What’s Going On.

None of us does it alone. Elizabeth Fais asks, Who’s Your Yoda?

Via the awesome photographer Penelope Beveridge, Water Photography Competition Winning Images are Revealed.

As the temperatures rise, I think most of us can relate to this playful horse.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week

All the best to all of you for a week of creative play with children.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Yakuza Launches Recruiting Site

By Piper Bayard

Pic like the ones you find at Yakuza site.
Image by Norbert Weber.

 

Membership in Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest family of Yakuza, or Japanese mafia, has been falling. Due to economic difficulties, the gangsta life is apparently not enough of a recruiting magnet on its own. So the Yamaguchi-gumi now has a recruiting website with its own corporate song, a poetry page, fishing diaries, and a message from the boss. Read about it here . . .

 

Japanese mobsters launch their own website

And this is the site. It’s in Japanese, but don’t worry. It has an English translation option.

Yakuza Recruiting Site

And here’s their video of happy little Yakuza at play to the tune of their theme song.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Speaking of Yakuza, Japan, and such, a big welcome to historical fiction author Susan Spann, the newest featured author at the Social In network. Look for Susan’s posts about ninjas, a.k.a. shinobi, on Saturdays at SocialInDC. Also, you can pre-order her latest Shinobi Mystery, BLADE OF THE SAMURAI, at Amazon now.

Kokkie H Reviews The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

In case you missed it, Holmes wrote an excellent piece about Boko Haram, the kidnapping that caught world attention, and the Western response. Boko Haram — Nigeria’s Jihadi Biker Gang

Image of kidnapped girls released by Boko Haram.
From Voice of America

Emotional Triggers–A Direct Path to Human Connectivity. Great advice about social media marketing strategies from Lonny Dunn of Pronetworkbuild.

UNHCR Says Internal Displacement Affects Some 10,000 People in Ukraine

Via Screenwriter and Best Selling Author Ryne Douglas Pearson — Photos: Ray Bradbury’s House for Sale. Cozy enough for the best of writers. Can be yours for only $1.49 million.

Ray Bradbury’s house

 

Photos: Welcome Home–The Story of Scott Ostrom via Christine Moore. There is more than one way to sacrifice a life. This Memorial Day, I won’t only be thinking about those who have died. I’ll be thinking about those who are called to go on.

Great article from New York Times bestseller and former Green Beret Bob Mayer. Survival Friday: Burglaries. I recommend checking out all of his Survival Fridays and picking up his book, The Green Beret Survival Guide. Part of the proceeds will go to Special Operations Warrior Foundations. SOWF provides scholorships grants, education and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who have died.

 

Morning A.D.D. (Awkward Daily Dose): Gallery. Get ready for a laugh.

Porn addiction is a very real and very serious issue. Your Brain on Porn: 10 Common Signs of Addiction by August McLaughlin, who is the person you’d get if Dr. Ruth and a supermodel had a baby.

And our video for the day . . . Think of the tub as the Yamaguchi-gumi Recruiting Site, the dog as the Yamaguchi-gumi, and the cat as the poor sucker who takes their web site seriously.

 

 

All the best to all of you for a week of knowing who your friends are.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Phones with Smells

By Piper Bayard

. The oPhone by Vapor Communications

Meet the oPhone. Now, now. I understand that its shape and name might lead to some improper conclusions, so let’s be clear right up front. The “o” in this phone is all about odors. Smells. This phone sends smells. Read all about it here . . .

Harvard Prof Invents a Phone That Sends Smells

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Via Best Selling Author Chuck Wendig, we find out What it is Like to Own a Tesla Model S — A Cartoonist’s Review of His Magical Space Car.

Thriller author and photographer Donna Galanti shared this along with a plea for the good of humanity. IMPORTANT! Please shoot responsibly! And in case you can’t tell, that’s a woman’s foot.

What does former Delta Force commander and New York Times bestseller Brad Tayler have to say about the recent change allowing women in combat? GI Jennifer and GI Jennifer II – Careful What You Wish For

Via Laurielyn Fields, These 25 Cats Went Out of Their Way to Be Absolute Jerks.

 

One of my favorite Mother’s Day blogs from last week by Julie Glover . . . If Your Mom Tweeted.

Sharon Lee Hughson details Six Sicknesses Perpetuated by Social Media.

Amazingly (not) East Ukraine Separatists Seek Union with Russia. If you missed it this week, catch Holmes’s outstanding article about the West, Putin, and why the Dancing Bear of Moscow is getting away with murder. Dances with Bears — The Putin/West Waltz

 

Chris McMullen gives excellent advice in Newbie Author Book Marketing Mistakes.

14 Things You Didn’t Know About Trader Joes via yoga instructor and author Christine Moore.

Some fun from Colin Falconer, Kitten Meat and Medieval Fun Land. He’s got a seriously funny Game of Thrones parody there.

And speaking of serious fun, I came across this jewel. Chuck Norris meets Eva Gabor on the Merv Griffen Show back in the day.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week:

All the best to all of you for a week of satisfying aromas.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Dead Mice Chess Pieces

Taxidermy Chess: Play with Rooks and Dead Rodents

Because jade, onyx, wood, pottery, crystal, resin, plastic and origami chess sets are passé.

For the rest of the mashup, click on the link below to come to our new website. Remember to subscribe while you’re there. We would hate to lose you in the move.

Bayard & Holmes

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . .

Dead Mice Chess Pieces

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Funeral Selfies

Funeral Selfies? Yes, They Do Exist

Proving once again that bad taste on social media has no boundaries. Apparently, taking selfies at funerals and other serious places like Chernobyl, Pearl Harbor, ad Auschwitz is the new trend.

Click on the title for the text version.

g

For the rest of the Mashup and the Campaign Style Question of the Week, come on over to our new site, and remember to subscribe when you get there. We want to bring you all with us!

Bayard & Holmes

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . .

Funeral Selfies

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Wine for Cats

Nyan Nyan Nouveau, Wine for Cats, On the Market in Japan

I’m delighted to report that Japan no longer has homeless people, orphans, diseases, or natural disasters so that the Japanese can develop wine for cats. Click on the title for the text.

Nyan Nyan Nouveau

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Fun, quick post from Jenny Hansen–Life is All About . . . Give Me One Word!

I don’t go on haunted tours. I let Susie Lindau do it for me. Ghost Walk

Some gorgeous photos from Award Winning Author Justine Dare Davis. Do You Love Where You Live?

International Giveaway and Interview with Allison Brennan at Larissa’s Bookish Life. Allison is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Lucy Kincaid series and a fun lady, to boot.

And to get the rest of the bad news over with, the NSA is collecting millions of contact lists, including those of Americans. Yes, this one is so undeniable, even MSN is reporting it. Also, the Washington Post article: NSA Collects Millions of E-Mail Address Books Globally

And for the latest on whistleblower Edward Snowden . . . Edward Snowden: US Would Have Buried NSA Warnings Forever.

Now that I’ve thoroughly depressed you, time to cheer you back up again . . .

image from Bored Panda

This one via literary agent Chip MacGregor cracked me up. 15th Century Flemish Style Portraits Recreated in Airplane Lavatory from Bored Panda. I know how I’m killing time on my next airplane flight.

Saudi Cleric Warns Driving Could Damage Women’s Ovaries

The video in this piece from Kitt Crescendo had me actually ROFL, but beware that the language evokes some quite graphic sexual images. What I Brought Back

Brickhouse Chick gives us a far more interesting Story from the Shutdown than the things you’ll find in mainstream media. Brickhousechick Gets Arrested

And a big thanks to Julie Glover for pointing me to this gem. If this guy doesn’t give you a smile, not much will. One Man Dances Like Nobody’s Watching . . . While Everyone Is.

All the best to all of you for a week of pampering.

Piper Bayard

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Man Crushed to Death by Own Marijuana

Guy Crushed to Death by His Own Marijuana Stash

A man in Brazil was trafficking 1100 pounds of marijuana in the back seat of his car. He led the police on a three mile high speed chase and crashed into a tree. When he crashed, the marijuana in the back seat came into the front seat and smashed him into the steering wheel.

As my Granny would say, “That’ll learn ya’.”

While this may be an eye-roller, I concede that it’s a good lesson for those of us who indulge in home repairs, squeezing all kinds of cabinets and plumbing apparatus into our vehicles. I mean, no one wants to die from a toilet attack in their car and end up on this blog, right?

Articles and Blogs in No Particular Order

Hands down my favorite story of the week. Badass WWII Veterans Storm Memorial on National Mall, Defy Government Shutdown Closure. The government actually took the time to put up barriers to our public memorials which always have open access at any other time. Wonder where they got the money for that? I love these vets!

Les Edgerton on Writing: HEROES. This guy knows what it takes to make it.

Congratulations to my awesome publisher, Aaron Patterson–known as A-Pat in the gossip rags–for making the USA Today Bestseller List with Sweet Dreams.

Small motorized object repair with Jess Witkins. I Broke the Fan, so Then I Fixed the Fan

23 Motivating Lessons from Zig Ziglar by Jenny Henson.

Of Monkeys and Men and How We All Need Love by Jennie Saia. Read this and then go hug someone.

Obamacare kicked in this week. Getting health insurance is a blessing for some, but the regulations and devastation to Medicare have been apocalyptic for others. For those who choose not to sign up for health insurance, they could lose their property. A Facebook post went viral when a man talked about how Obamacare allows the government to seize fines from his bank account or take his house. This is partially true. Here is what Snopes has to say about the draconian penalties of not rendering unto the massive social parasite that is our broken health care system. Snopes.com Penalty Shot

After that, we could all use some cheering up. Otter Pups Swim Lesson.

Campaign Style Question of the Week:

All the best to all of you for a week of sensible packing.

Piper Bayard

The End Is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Black Market Used Pregnancy Tests

Women are Selling Positive Pregnancy Tests?

Yep. You heard it right. Used pregnancy tests are now for sale on Craig’s List. Just in case you think screwing a guy over to get him to marry you is the right start for building a life together.

Click on the title above to view the text version.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Susie Lindau brings us fantastic pictures from the Colorado Flood Zone–Storm Chasing During Boulder’s 100-Year Flood. The storm was upgraded to a 500-Year Flood shortly after she posted this.

Former Boulder resident and New York Times Bestseller Bob Mayer reminds us, Seriously, You HAVE to be PREPARED for Emergencies.

Paige Kellerman proves her brilliance by finding humor in the fact that her house is sinking into the ground. For reals. In the Meantime, We’re Still Sinking. I also highly recommend her book, which I am currently enjoying–At Least My Belly Hides My Cankles. It will have you ROFL from the pregnancy test to the post-partum Pilates DVD.

10 Facts You Should Know about Migraines

20 Questions to Master Self-Reflection by Nathaniel McMillan at Mature by Nature.

Siri Paulson’s Guide to Train Travel in India.

Looking for Bigfoot? Follow This Map–Others Have Seen ‘Em There

Labor Leader: Obamacare “Needs to be Repealed” if Union Demands aren’t Met. Apparently, Obamacare is only for those who aren’t in Congress and who don’t have union leaders who can get them out of it.

A lot of people are wondering how we ended up with the outrageously expensive travesty that is Obamacare. This short, hysterical  film could help explain it. Help Kickstart WWIII!

I know. We all need a drink after that one. Can’t help you with that, but I can cheer you up with this story of solid decency. Dairy Queen Worker’s Good Deed Goes Viral

By fashion maven Jessica Farkas, Glam Closet: To Accessorze or Not . . . THAT is the Question! Great guidelines for those of us with Fashion Deficit Disorder.

Or how about some porn? Jenny Hansen at More Cowbell brings us the Porn-Watching Map of the U.S.

This article by Special Operations Speaks Out sums up the information that the Obama administration is withholding from the public about Benghazi. An Open Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner

And to leave a sweeter taste in your mouth, the 4-Ingredient Key Lime Pie from K.B. Owen.

The kids are all back in school, so here’s one in honor of all of the teachers. Thank you for your time and efforts. Feel free to do this if you ever see my kid on the phone during your class.

Campaign Style Poll Daddy Question of the Week:

All the best to all of you for a week of keeping it real.

Piper Bayard