Greece Has Defaulted: Here Is Where We Stand

This weekend should be interesting.  From Zero Hedge.  Excerpts:
1) Greece was able to write off 100 billion euros worth of debt in exchange for a 130 billion rescue package of new debt, of which Greece itself will receive 19%, or about 25 billion, so that it can continue to operate as an ongoing concern. Somehow Greece is in a better position than before, with more debt and less sovereignty and still---by virtue of sharing a common currency---trying to compete toe-to-toe with the likes of Germany and the Netherlands, kind of like being the Yemeni National Basketball team in an Olympic bracket that includes the US, Spain and Germany. At least a "within the euro" default prevented bank runs in Portugal, Spain, Italy et al.



2) As a result of the bond haircuts, Greece has many pension plans that can no longer even pretend to be viable, at least according to the original contracted scheme, but pensionholders still working can take heart in the fact that their current wages will be cut, too.
And:
8) Given how much angst was caused by the drawn out Greek affair, the Spanish leader knows he has enormous leverage with EU leadership and he can continue to do what he has been doing with regard to ignoring the deficit targets demanded/suggested by the EU. The EU might well bark at him, but they cannot afford to bite at this time. Muchos gracias, Greece.

Solar storm headed toward Earth may disrupt power

The One/Two Punch begins to smack Earth about midnight tonight Central Standard Time..  CBS News.  Excerpts:

The largest solar storm in five years is racing toward Earth, threatening to unleash a torrent of charged particles that could disrupt power grids, GPS and airplane flights.



The sun erupted Tuesday evening, and the effects should start smacking Earth between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST Thursday, according to forecasters at the federal government's Space Weather Prediction Center. They say the storm, which started with a massive solar flare, is growing as it speeds outward from the sun.


"It's hitting us right in the nose," said Joe Kunches, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He called it the sun's version of "Super Tuesday."
..
The solar storm is likely to last through Friday morning, but the region that erupted can still send more blasts our way, Kunches said. He said another set of active sunspots is ready to aim at Earth right after this.



But for now, scientists are waiting to see what happens Thursday when the charged particles hit Earth at 4 million mph.
..
But there is potential for widespread problems. Solar storms have three ways they can disrupt technology on Earth: with magnetic, radio and radiation emissions. This is an unusual situation when all three types of solar storm disruptions are likely to be strong, Kunches said.



That means "a whole host of things" could follow, he said.


The magnetic part of the storm has the potential to trip electrical power grids. Kunches said utility companies around the world have been alerted. The timing and speed of the storm determines whether it knocks off power grids, he said.
I think we'll all be cool as long as no one tells Nicholas Cage.. 

Good news potheads, Pat Robertson is on your side

Which just goes to show you that even the most broken down, spiritually bankrupt clocks still give correct time twice a day..  MSN.  Excerpts:

Regular viewers of The 700 Club may have wondered what their favorite televangelist was tokin' about when he declared on air that marijuana should be decriminalized. It's a whiplash-inducing turn to the left for (Marion, his real name)Pat, who now figures he is "sort of a hero of the hippie culture."

Yeah, Pat, that's it..  Hero to Hippies, not Crazy Grandpa that embarrasses entire countries with his God-hates-fags-and-will-kill-them-with-hurricanes Alzheimer's flavored rhetoric.

Yeah, Pat, you're right about weed, but even hardcore potheads won't forget all the other bullshit you've said.  So Marion's score stands at Reason:  One, Insane Rantings: Infinity.

Why Won't Ron Paul Quit?

I'll spare you the rehash of Mainstream Media theories.  You've probably heard them all.  Ron Paul continues on, in my opinion, for two reasons: 

1.  He's building a Movement.  Movements have patience.  He was branded a lunatic in 2008, half-serious in 2012, and what of 2016?   I think Paul's organization will be utilized by the next Paul Libertarian as a big leap towards establishing a serious Third Party challenge.   

A Movement isn't dependent on Cult of Personality, rather, those who share ideology.  What if Paul is paving the way for future Libertarians?  Then, Ron Paul becomes the seminal first Presidential candidate for what turned into the first competitive Third Party candidate in modern history.  If that were to happen, Ron Paul gets a big ol' hat-tip in tomorrow's history books!

2.  He's waiting for every other candidate to be called out, politically destroyed, or indicted for their various massive cronyism and corruptions.  I think Ron Paul intends on being the true Last Man Standing.

That's just my two drachmas, worth just as much.

X-Flare! Incoming!

Sunspot 1429.  Earth-directed.  Satellites and electronics MAY, may be affected, but the colors should be intense!  Something something..  Prophecy..  Something something..  Fulfilled..

Israel’s Channel 2: U.S. Officials Believe Netanyahu Has Already Decided to Strike Iran

Yikes..  From The Algemeiner, via the awesome Urban Survival.  Excerpts:

Channel 2 in Israel, sourcing a “senior American official”, says that the decision has already been made by the Israeli government to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.



“All U.S. intelligence officials are confident the Israeli leadership has already decided to attack Iran, unless a significant change happens in the coming weeks or months with the Iranian nuclear program,” Channel 2 reports.


The report comes just hours ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to AIPAC in Washington.

I bet the back-channel chatter is at a fever pitch, at the moment..

March 4, 2012

Could Earth be impacted by large asteroid February 15-16, 2013?  The Extinction Protocol.  Excerpts:


Scientists are predicting that the asteroid 2012 DA14 has a good chance of colliding with earth in eleven months. Watch the skies in February 2013!  According to RT, NASA has confirmed that the 60 meter (or 197 feet) asteroid, which was spotted by Spanish stargazers in February this year, has a good chance of colliding with earth. The scientists suggest confronting this asteroid with either big guns or, more strangely, with paint. The problem with either option is that there is no time to build a spaceship for the operation. A spaceship could either shoot the asteroid down or simply crash into it – this would either break it into pieces or throw it off course. NASA expert David Dunham suggested: “We could paint it.” The paint would change the asteroid’s ability to reflect sunlight, alter its spin and change its temperature. However, even taking the asteroid off course could be dangerous when it returns in 2056..

Paint it!  Let my future relatives deal with it!

Two "File Under's" from Gawker.

File Under:  Funny that this even needs to be said..  Mormon Church to Members: Quit Baptizing Dead Jews 

File Under:  It was only a matter of time..  "Ultimate Fighter" Reality Show Rising Star Has Gay Porn Background  Mmm..  Sexy punching..



Weeeeeeeeeeeeirdd..  Bibles found in Bin Laden compound prompt speculations of ‘jihad teachings’  Al Arabiya.  Excerpts:

Two Bibles were found at the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday, prompting speculation that the al-Qaeda leader had used the religious books for “teachings of jihad.”



Security officials discovered the Christian holy books when demolition crews were sent in to tear down the compound in Abbottabad this week, according to the newspaper.


The officials said that certain lines in the English language Bibles were highlighted and they contained pages that were folded over. Two radio sets were also found during a final sweep of the compound before demolition.


A commanding officer from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence told The Sun: “Maybe he was looking for teachings of jihad.”


“The Bibles were in English and we cannot be sure why they were there. These copies were found as we checked the rooms for the final time before demolishing the building.


“The radios are in working condition and will be given with the Bibles to the investigators. Some pages were folded and we will see later what was of most interest to bin Laden.” the officer added.

A 7th advertiser pulls out of Limbaugh's show.  Wake me at  "20 sponsors defect," or when Limbaugh cries, shits himself on national TV. I know it's temporary, and he'll recover, but let me dream, please..