10 pm MDT
What *was* on
Further to my last TV Review; distressed by the unremitting bleakness of the ending of Follow the Money, I turned over to see the tail end of the film ‘Denial’, all about the Trial of David Irving V Deborah Lipstadt to cheer myself up. In it, the brilliant lawyer Anthony Julius bore an uncanny resemblance to the priest in Fleabag. Turns out both roles were played by the same actor. (Andrew Scott.) I wish they wouldn’t *do* that. (I realise that there was a spell when Timothy Spall was in practically everything, but for some reason, it seems easier to suspend one’s disbelief where ...more »
Sunday Talks: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -vs- Margaret Brennan….
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins a breathless and dramatic Margaret Brennan to discuss issues related to the recent North Korean missile test; China putting Muslims in “concentration camps”, and the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.
Sunday Talks: Secretary Pompeo -vs- Chris Wallace…
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appears on Fox News Sunday to debate Swamp antagonist Chris ‘But’ Wallace on issues related to Venezuela, Russia, China and North Korea. Despite the Weissmann/Mueller report, Chris “But” Wallace continues advancing the Russia collusion-conspiracy… until … Continue reading →
U.S. Air Force Ground-Based Laser Successfully Downed Multiple Test Missiles Over New Mexico
An artist's conception of a future fight jet shooting down a threat with a laser. Lockheed Martin *Defense One:* *Fighter Jets with Missile-Killing Lasers Take Another Step Toward Reality* U.S. Air Force says a ground-based laser downed multiple test missiles over New Mexico. A successful ground test has moved the U.S. military one big step closer to putting anti-missile lasers on its aircraft. A ground-based laser shot down “several” missiles in flight during an April 23 test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Air Force officials said. Run by the Air Force Research ...more »
Ritual
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced
All of the Reasons Germany's Once Mighty Air Force Is Dying
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Not good. *Germany is also the economic powerhouse of Europe, and to say it has a strong military tradition would be an understatement, even if it is one that most of its current inhabitants would rather forget. If the Germans can't be relied upon to maintain an air force, who in Europe can? Especially now that Britain, which along with France is the top military power in Europe, may under Brexit be less likely to participate in common European defense.* President Trump’s goal of Europe taking more responsibility for its own defense may come crashi... more »
How Big Should the U.S. Navy Actually Be?
*James Holmes* *Security, * The size question. *Factor in such disproportionate expenditures and the margin between U.S. and foreign spending doesn’t gape nearly so wide as budgeteering implies.* The walking dead are ravaging Capitol Hill—again! I refer not to literal ghouls but to misleading ideas about navies that refuse to die in policymaking circles. The living dead shamble around during election season or just after—in other words, at times of political flux like this one, when one house of Congress has changed hands and the other is undergoing a leadership shakeup. *(Thi... more »
The Trump Economic Boom
As the two charts below show, it is far from sure that there is a Trump economic boom. Of course, we must remain open to surprises. What is perhaps most surprising at this point, however, is how certain Trump’s economic policies and policy attitudes haven’t wrecked the economy. Yet, let’s keep in mind that, contrary […] The post The Trump Economic Boom appeared first on Econlib.
Presidential Candidates Vote In Polarized North Macedonia's Runoff
*DW:* *North Macedonia votes in polarized presidential runoff* North Macedonian voters are choosing a new president in a poll that could make life more difficult for the ruling Social Democrats. The entire election will need to be rerun if not enough people turn out to vote. Voters in North Macedonia returned to the ballot box on Sunday to vote in a presidential runoff election that focused on the name change deal with Greece. The hotly contested vote pits Stevo Pendarovski, backed by the ruling Social Democrats, against his nationalist-backed rival Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.... more »
Panamanians Go To The Polls Today To Elect A New President
The results of the presidential race are expected on Sunday evening and president-elect will take office July 1 [Reuters] *Al Jazeera*: *Panama votes to elect president amid corruption scandals* Surveys show the ruling Panamenista Party will lose power in elections marked by outrage over corruption allegations. Panama City - Voters in Panama cast ballots on Sunday to elect their next president, 71 legislators, and hundreds of local government officials. The country's 2.7 million voters are expected to vote the ruling Panamenista Party out of office in elections marked by widespread... more »
Gaza Crisis: Israeli Army Poised to Launch Ground Invasion After Hundreds of Rockets Fired
Gaza Crisis: Israeli Army Poised to Launch Ground Invasion After Hundreds of Rockets Fired by Bel Trew, https://www.independent.co.uk/ Man in his 50s becomes first Israeli civilian to be killed since 2014 war An armoured brigade is poised to launch a ground invasion into Gaza if needed, the Israeli army has said, after militants in the …
Netanyahu Instructs IDF to Strengthen Forces, Continue ‘Massive Strikes’ After Gaza Rocket Fire
Netanyahu Instructs IDF to Strengthen Forces, Continue ‘Massive Strikes’ After Gaza Rocket Fire by https://www.rt.com/ Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue targeting Gaza with airstrikes, following overnight fighting with Hamas. The Israeli prime minister also instructed the IDF to increase its armored and artillery forces in the south.Netanyahu, who held an emergency cabinet meeting on …
Israeli Army ‘Threatens Ground Invasion’ of Gaza Amid Flare Up in Violence: Reports
Israeli Army ‘Threatens Ground Invasion’ of Gaza Amid Flare Up in Violence: Reports by https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english The Israeli army has said that it is ready to launch a ground attack on the Gaza Strip, following a major escalation in violence between Israel and Palestinian armed factions. Around 450 rockets have been fired from the besieged Gaza Strip …
Netanyahu Says He’s Ordered IDF to Continue ‘Massive Strikes’ in Gaza
Netanyahu Says He’s Ordered IDF to Continue ‘Massive Strikes’ in Gaza by https://www.timesofisrael.com/ PM says Hamas paying a ‘very heavy price’ for its rocket fire as ministers call for escalation, renewal of targeted assassinations. Amid escalating fighting between Hamas and Israel, and after over 450 rockets were fired since Saturday morning at southern Israeli communities, …
If the U.S. Rejoins the JCPOA, Iran’s Power Will Not Be Unshackled
Photo Credit: via Wikipedia *Editor’s Note: Critics of the Trump administration worry that its decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal will haunt successor administrations. Iran, they fear, will emerge stronger and even more aggressive. Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa, however, argues that the constraints on Iran are profound and structural and that Iran would remain weak if the deal were renegotiated.* *Daniel Byman* *** Most prominent Democratic presidential candidates have said that they support the United States rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Act... more »
On Venezuela, Tucker Airs Anti-Trump Ideas While Maddow Wants John Bolton To Be More Hawkish
Rachel Maddow doesn’t think John Bolton is being hawkish enough. John. Fucking. Bolton. On a recent segment about Donald Trump’s controversial phone call with Vladimir Putin, Maddow expressed concern for the way the White House’s mustachioed Thanos wannabe has been unable to push back against […]
U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarines Might Become the Ultimate Spy 'Ships'
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * This is how it could happen. *Next-generation sonar technology, woven into Virginia-Class subs, is engineered to work in tandem with “Fly-by-Wire” technology to better identify threats operating at various depths and speed.* The Navy is expanding its attack submarine strategy to further emphasize enhanced “spy” like intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance missions to quietly patrol shallow waters near enemy coastline - scanning for enemy submarines, surface ships and coastal threats. Improved undersea navigation and detection technology, using new s... more »
Could Russia Shoot Down America's New B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber?
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Here is what we found out. *Newer methods of IR or thermal signature reduction are connected to engine and exhaust placement. Internally configured engines, coupled with exhaust pipes on the top of an aircraft can massively lower the heat emissions from an aircraft, such as the structure of the current B-2 - the authors of the essay say.* The Air Force has completed a substantial technical “critical design review of its next-generation B-21 Raider bomber, an aircraft said by developers to mark a new “generation” in stealth technology able to elude the... more »
A-10 Pilot Explains All of the Reasons "the Flying Tank" Will Beat Any Foe
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * “There are things built in for redundancy. If one hydraulic system fails, another one kicks in,” he said. *During the early months of combat in Operation Enduring Freedom, in a battle known as “Operation Anaconda,” Haden’s A-10 wound up in a fast-moving, dynamic combat circumstance wherein U.S. military were attacking Taliban fighters in the Afghan mountains.* Known for an ability to keep flying after taking multiple rounds of enemy machine gun fire, land and operate in rugged terrain, destroy groups of enemy fighters with a 30mm cannon and unleash a w... more »
How To Make Sure An Aircraft Carrier Is Ready for War: Detonate Bombs Right Near It
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Here come the shock trials. *A 2007 Department of Defense-directed Shock Trials analysis by the non-profit MITRE corporation explains that many of the expected or most probable threats to warships come from “non-contact explosions where a high-pressure wave is launched toward the ship.”* The US Navy is planning to finalize weapons integration on its new USS Ford carrier and explode bombs in various sea conditions near the ship to prepare for major combat on the open seas, service officials said. Service weapons testers will detonate a wide range of bo... more »
What Do These Close-Up Pictures of China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Tell Us?
*Task and Purpose* *Security, * Have a look. *Although the J-20 has been pushed into service, recent problems with the J-15 carrier-based fighter suggest that the Chinese answer to the F-22 isn’t quite ready for prime-time despite propaganda from Chinese-owned media outlets that portray the J-20 as a fully-armed and operational battle station. That certainly sounds familiar …* On August 1st, China celebrated the founding of the People's Liberation Army by allowing some high-resolution photos of the next-generation J-20 stealth fighter to leak, complete with a tasteful photoshop... more »
Proposed Missouri Law Would Require Residents 18 to 35 to Own an AR-15 (There's a Catch)
*Task and Purpose* *Security, * A really big catch. *Introducing legislation to make a point makes total sense, but given that Daniels opposes his own bill, there seems like zero change these measures would ever become law. Of course, Daniels' introduction of the legislation coincided with the mass shootings at mosques in New Zealand that left 50 people dead — which, point made, I guess?* A new bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives would require a significant number of state residents own "at least one" AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with the help of a hefty tax ... more »
Israeli Government Approves Targeted Killings Of Hamas Officials
We just targeted Hamed Ahmed Khudari, a Gazan terrorist responsible for transferring Iranian funds to Hamas & PIJ in Gaza, helping fund their rocket fire at Israelis. Transferring Iranian money to Hamas & the PIJ doesn’t make you a businessman. It makes you a terrorist. pic.twitter.com/WvGEB16r4h — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 5, 2019 *Jerusalem Post:* *Targeted killings begin as security cabinet directs IDF to intensify strikes* The IDF spokesman announced the assassination of Hamed Ahmed Abed Khudri, which would mark the first time in a number of years that the IDF has used... more »
DNA CONTROL IS THE DARK FUTURE OF MASS MEDICAL INTERVENTION
Google and big pharma already know more about your DNA than you and they are not afraid to use it against you, in order to enforce the agenda of the global elite. Knowledge is power... The post DNA CONTROL IS THE DARK FUTURE OF MASS MEDICAL INTERVENTION appeared first on Healing Oracle.
I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT "ITALIAN PRIVILEGE"
I don't have to tell you that the right-wing media loves scare stories about MS-13, frequently accompanied by photographs of men with extreme facial tattoos. Here, for instance, are some headlines from the Daily Caller : Here's a Daily Caller editorial about MS-13: If you don’t think MS-13 are “animals,” you’re part of the problem.... MS-13 has brought violence, fear and suffering to communities.... This street gang is committing execution style murders, gang rape and human trafficking.... Despite all this, some still have a soft spot in their hearts for these vicious animals —... more »
Turkish Vice-President: Turkey To Buy Russian S-400 Missiles Despite US 'Threats'
© REUTERS / Vitaly Nevar *Al Jazeera*: *Turkey will not bow to US sanctions over S-400: Vice president* *Fuat Oktay says US concerns over the Russian-made defence system are not reasonable, adding Ankara will not back down.* Turkey will never bow to US sanctions over its agreement to buy Russian S-400 defence systems, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Sunday in reference to a deal that has strained ties between the NATO allies. Washington has said the S-400s could compromise the capabilities of its F-35 fighter jets - for which it has a separate deal with Turkey - and war... more »
Resist it while you can
Everyone will have seen the video of milkshake-gate by now. No use crying over spilt milk - but it went all over Tommy’s favourite jacket and stale milk does have an unpleasantly pervasive stink. Now, one might speculate that Tommy (Real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) was almost *asking* for it - he knows it’s the kind of thing that happens to him, as it has happened many times before. He’s been hit, punched, sworn at and called a fascist and a racist. He’s often excitable, his body language can be provocative, and if someone is confrontational and aggressive with him, he can be equ... more »
Gaza Launches Hundreds Of Rockets Into Israel. Israel Lauches Over 200 Airstrikes
*CNN*: *600 rockets fired from Gaza, Israel responds with airstrikes* Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "massive attacks against terrorist elements" in Gaza will continue after militants in the coastal enclave fired approximately 600 rockets towards Israel. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday morning, Netanyahu said: "Hamas bears the responsibility not only for its own attacks and actions but also for the actions of Islamic Jihad, and it is paying a very heavy price for this." Israel has so far responded with airstrikes on 260 targets across Gaza, accordi... more »
Man Arrested, Facing a Year in Prison for Telling Police They are “Pissing on the Constitution”
By Matt Agorist WASHINGTON, D.C. — (TRI) Warning that the government must not be given the power to criminalize speech it deems distasteful or annoying,... more »
Venezuela Helicopter Crash Kills Seven Officers
Eurocopter AS 532AC Cougar of the Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela © Wikipedia *RT*: *Seven military personnel killed in Venezuela helicopter crash* A Venezuelan military helicopter has crashed, killing all seven people on board. The deceased include three captains, two majors and two lieutenant-colonels. The Cougar Siglas helicopter was flying from Caracas to San Carlos, in the state of Cojedes. The helicopter crashed shortly after leaving the Venezuelan capital in a wooded area of the Caracas municipality of El Hatillo. *Read more* .... *More News On The Crash OF A V... more »
Can Andy Beshear Beat Bevin This Coming November? Trump Is Flipping Out Over This Race
Kentucky is a weird and intriguing state when it comes to politics. Just watch the great explanation of what's going on there in the Samantha Bee video above before you read another word. It's one of the reddest states in the Union (PVI is R+15-- worse than Alabama, Mississippi, Texas or Kansas) and Trump beat Hillary there 1,202,971 (62.5%) to 628,854 (32.68). She won just two of Kentucky's 120 counties. Hillary even managed to lose Elliott County, which had never-- in its 150 year history-- voted for a Republican before, not Reagan, not Eisenhower, not Harding... just Trump. Any... more »
BUMPED TO THE TOP: BREAKING NEWS and Another SitRep on the Donbass from US Expat "Texas" [Russell Bentley]
*UPDATED: May 5, 2019 *I have to go out and watch my son run in the Vancouver Marathon today. Exciting! But I wanted to say a few things first.* #1 *A comment on Texas's reporting [below] about the Peoples of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics being offered Russian passports by Putin. IMO, *isn't this is an ad hoc referendum on the Donbass joining the Russian Federation? *Say, if 90% of the people of the two Republics have Russian Passports...doesn't that *ipso facto *make the region part of Russia? Just asking.* #2 *I* note on Sputnik and RT this morning there is a "Breaking News" a... more »
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Mike Benusic points out that the success of public health programs is found in the absence of preventable illnesses and dangers - meaning that Doug Ford's slashing of Ontario's funding is likely to lead to far more health costs in the long run: (P)ublic health isn’t in the business of patient care. Patients only become patients when they are sick. By preventing disease and promoting health, public health prevents people from becoming patients – by keeping the bridge sturdy so they never fall in the water. From the child who never had to go t... more »
Just let me finish
It would be remiss of me not to mention this strange piece in the Sunday Times *Emily Maitlis and Mishal Husain interrupt interviews even more than John Humphrys* "The veteran presenter of the Today programme is outflanked on interjections by two BBC colleagues" It took three authors, Rosamund Urwin, Shingi Mararike and Ellie McDonald to come up with this unexpected theory. “Yet, perhaps surprisingly, Humphrys is already outflanked on interjections by two BBC colleagues — Mishal Husain and Emily Maitlis — both of whom have a reputation for being more measured.” Reputation wit... more »
Turkish Army cancels offensive in northern Aleppo amid safe zone talks with Russia: reports
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:00 P.M.) – The Turkish military has allegedly cancelled their offensive against the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the Tal Rifa’at area of northern Aleppo, several reports claimed on Sunday. According to these reports, the Turkish military and their allies from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) made the decision to not launch […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Breaking: Turkish Army allegedly abandons observation posts in northwest Hama
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The Turkish Army has allegedly abandoned their observation posts in northwestern Hama, the Arabic-language version of the Sputnik News Agency reported. According to the report, the Turkish Army removed its posts in the Jabal Shashabo area after an attack by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) injured at least four soldiers […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter made 10+ flights over Syria in 2018
Russia’s fifth generation Su-57 fighter jet made over ten flights in Syria in 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported late last year. “The crews of Su-57 planes performed over 10 flights in Syria,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement after posting footage of the aircraft in action. “The flights were performed to confirm […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Guaido admits he doesn’t have enough military support to overtake Maduro
The Venezuelan opposition had underestimated its support in the military, Juan Guaido has admitted after the failed coup attempt, adding that he’d welcome US-backed military intervention if Washington decides to pursue that path. Guaido and his supporters suffered an embarrassing defeat on Tuesday after the US-backed politician called on the military and the opposition to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
UK aims to break Julian Assange with brutal sentence in max security prison (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 159. The post UK aims to break Julian Assange with brutal sentence in max security prison (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Is Russia And The U.S. About To Make A Deal On Venezuela?
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo courtesy of Russian Foreign Ministry *Vladimir Frolov, Moscow Times*:* Putin Is Ready to Give Up Venezuela for the Right Price* Sergei Lavrov and Mike Pompeo will soon meet in Helsinki to discuss Venezuela's future. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are heading towards a contentious meeting in Finland (their first since the Helsinki summit last year) with the crisis in Venezuela crowding out almost all other items on the agenda. Last week, Russia an... more »
One way to handle robo calls
Many marketing calls are now computer generated. Some use artificial intelligence to elicit interest or precorded verbiage using a person or computer. They are relentless. But, there is an interesting twist. Many want to leave a message and have you … Continue reading →
Meet the Iskander: Russia's Latest Navy-Killer Missile?
*Michael Peck* *Security, * We take a look. *But also note that the DF-26 has an estimated range of 2,500 miles, much greater than a Kalibr or an Iskander-M. A 300-mile missile may be a useful coastal defense weapon in confined waters like the Baltic or Black Seas, enabling Russia to prevent NATO ships from getting too close to its territory. But it's not a long-range access denial weapon.* First, China developed long-range "carrier-killer" ballistic missiles. Now, Russia's Iskander ballistic missile system may have the same mission. *(This first appeared late last year.)* In ... more »
Why the World Should Fear North Korea's Rockets and Artillery Weapons
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * Current events tell us so. *Other factors reduce the projected loss of life in the greater Seoul metropolitan area. The city has extensive air raid shelters for civilians that will quickly reduce the exposed population density. The North will struggle to keep these heavy artillery units supplied with shells, particularly with its aging supply system. Finally, U.S. and ROK forces will quickly begin hunting down units participating in the bombardment, causing their numbers to drop almost immediately.* For most armies, artillery is just one component o... more »
The Korea War: The Most Brutal of All-Time?
*WarIsBoring* *History, * The soldiers who fought it might think so. This is why. *The Air Force currently has only around 15 MOABs, and they are not capable of penetrating the numerous hardened underground tunnels, bunkers and bases the North Koreans have built. To address that problem, the Pentagon has developed a special bomb designed specifically for underground facilities of the kind built by North Korea and Iran. The 15-ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator can supposedly blast through 200 feet of concrete to take out the most hardened subterranean lair.* It’s difficult to try ... more »
How a U.S. B-2 Stealth (Bomber) Almost Accidentally Started a War with China
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * A close call. *At the same time, however, there was evidence that the Chinese Communist Party encouraged the anti-Western protests. Chinese authorities allegedly organized the protests through Communist Party cadres assigned to universities. Bottles, stones, bricks, paint and even Molotov cocktails were thrown at the U.S. embassy in Beijing. In Chengdu, the consul’s residence was set on fire. Given the tight control the Chinese Communist Party exerts over the country, it is difficult to imagine that the more violent protests were at least tacitly al... more »
Ruger: The 5 Best Guns from One of the World's Best Arms Manufactures
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * We break it all down. *One of the major benefits to the American public to come from the Modular Handgun System was the requirement for enhanced ergonomics. The pistol comes with three different backstraps to fit a wide variety of hand sizes, and the pistol is fully ambidextrous. Going forward, these features will likely become standard on handguns sold in the United States.* Sturm Ruger & Company, also known as Ruger Firearms, is one of the most well known and respected names in the American gun industry. Founded in 1949 by gun designers Bill Ruger... more »
Man Arrested, Facing a Year in Prison for Telling Police They are ‘Pissing on the Constitution’
[image: constitution]After police refused to respond to his calls for assistance, a Texas man gave police a peaceful piece of his mind, but it landed him in jail.
WATCH: Rights-Flexing Mom Sends Cops Packing After They Try to Enter Her Home With No Warrant
Billings, MT — As TFTP has consistently reported over the years, knowing your rights and filming police interactions is the best defense against police officers who are willing to trample your rights. We’ve reported on multiple videos in which people shut down cops who try to violate their rights. However, the video below depicts one […]
This Day In Iraqi History - May 5
1920 British mandate announced in Baghdad (Musings On Iraq interview with Princeton’s Sara Pursley on Sykes-Picot and creation of Iraq) (Musings On Iraq book review *The Creation of Iraq 1914-1921*) (Musings On Iraq book review *Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, Iraq since 1989*) (Musings On Iraq book review *An Analysis of Hanna Batatu’s The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq*) (Musings On Iraq book review *Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied*) (Musings On Iraq book review *Supremacy And Oil, Iraq, Turkey, and the Anglo-Ame... more »
Zepp-LaRouche: Be Optimistic! Trump-Putin Call Advances the New Paradigm
Zepp-LaRouche: Be Optimistic! Trump-Putin Call Advances the New Paradigm Video of Zepp-LaRouche: Be Optimistic! Trump-Putin Call Advances the New Paradigm The ninety minute call between Presidents Trump and Putin was greeted by Helga Zepp LaRouche as “really good news,” as she reviewed the broader strategic implications of the emerging post-Russiagate situation. These include: —The importance of the Trump-Putin discussion for economic and strategic cooperation, including addressing the situations in Venezuela, Ukraine and North Korea; —The positive potential for U.S.-China cooper... more »
Good Riddance to CalPERS’ Bill Slaton; Board Changes May (Finally) Lead to Staff Serving Beneficiaries, Not Its Own Interests
Why beneficiaries and California taxpayers should welcome Lisa Middleton replacing Bill Slaton on the CalPERS board.
This Is One Of Russia's Popular Bloggers
Alexander Gorbunov, born in 1992 in the North Caucasus city of Makhachkala, revealed himself as the author behind famous social media channels StalinGulag *Daily Mail*: *Secretive anti-Kremlin blogger with 1.5million online followers reveals his identity as a wheelchair-bound Russian trader after police raid his parents' home* * Blogger StalinGulag revealed himself as Alexander Gorbunov, born in 1992 * Gorbunov has 300,000 followers on Telegram and over a million on Twitter * He said he revealed his identity out of fear after police raided his parents' home * He has used a wheelc... more »
A Look At How China Is Using Surveillance Aps For Social Control And Repression
A checkpoint in Turpan, Xinjiang. Some of Xinjiang’s checkpoints are equipped with special machines that, in addition to recognizing people through their ID cards or facial recognition, are also vacuuming up people’s identifying information from their electronic devices. © 2018 Darren Byler Human Rights Watch: *China’s Algorithms of Repression* *Reverse Engineering a Xinjiang Police Mass Surveillance App.* Since late 2016, the Chinese government has subjected the 13 million ethnic Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang to mass arbitrary detention, forced political indoctrin... more »
This Gulag Documentary Is Taking Russian YouTubers By Storm
*Moscow Times:* *Gulag Documentary Takes Russian YouTube by Storm* Russia's online community has been abuzz over the past week with praise for popular YouTuber Yury Dud's documentary about life in the land of the gulag labor camps. It’s a departure for the 32-year-old sports editor, whose 5.1 million subscribers tune in to watch him interview personalities from all walks of life about their personal lives. More often than not, Dud’s questions have been said to “border on the tabloid-esque.” *Read more* .... *WNU Editor*: Russia needs more of these documentaries.
Ford And "Fake News"
Like his orange cousin, Doug Ford has gone to war with the media. Antonia Zerbisias writes: The war between Doug Ford's government and the news media escalated this week when the Ontario premier and his finance minister Vic Fedeli took off for New York City on Monday, ostensibly to sell U.S. corporations on the idea that the province is "open for business." While there, Ford popped up on the Fox Business Network, the right arm of the decidedly right-wing Fox (infotainment) News Channel on which, if something is in the public interest, it's dubbed "socialism." The trouble was, th... more »
“Good Riddance, your Hatred is not Welcome Here,” Tweets NY Mayor to Bolsonaro
By Harold Emert RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Calling Brazil’ s President Bolsonaro “a bully”, New York City Mayor and reportedly Presidential Candidate Bill de Blasio (Democrat) seems to be satisfied that Bolsonaro has canceled his visit to the Big Apple to receive the award of “Personality of the Year.” The award-dinner ceremony by the […] The post “Good Riddance, your Hatred is not Welcome Here,” Tweets NY Mayor to Bolsonaro appeared first on The Rio Times.
Albany robbed of its coldest ever April day, BOM adjusts temp up 15 degrees C?!
By Paul Homewood h/t AC Osborn Jo Nova has the latest example of temperature shenanigans in Australia: Friday April 19th set more records than anyone realized. Not only was it the earliest recorded snowfall at Bluff Knoll, but it was also the coldest ever April day in Albany and many […]
On The Politics of Philosopher Kings
In Plato’s the *Republic*, Socrates says: “Unless the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide in the same place, while the many natures now making their way to either apart from the other are by necessity excluded, there is no rest from ills for the cities, my dear Glaucon, nor I think for human kind, nor will the regime we have now described in speech ever come forth from nature, insofar as possible, and see the light of the sun.” ~ (Allan Bloom’s translation in *The Republic... more »
Episode #278 – ‘The Art of Western Propaganda’ with guest Robert Stuart, Basil Valentine
*SUNDAY WIRE SHOW* | Strap yourselves in and lower the blast shield – this is your brave new world…
More from Crimea
*Being interviewed on Russian national TV while at the 35th Battery Museum in Sevastopol, Crimea on May 4. As the Nazis advanced on Sevastopol during WW II Russian sailors and soldiers retreated to the 35th Battery and up to 30,000 were killed by the Nazi troops. This is one of the most incredible museums I've ever visited.* *Our group having just emerged from the final hall of the museum where a moving video showed the faces of many of the 30,000 who were killed by the Nazis during the German occupation of Crimea.* *GN board member Will Griffin (Iraq & Afghanistan war veteran) sta... more »
Untitled
*High School Student Suspended for Posing With Pro-Trump MAGA Flag and Sweatshirt* Last Friday, Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz., suspended student Logan Jones after a security officer reprimanded her as she posed for photos in a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) sweater while holding a pro-Trump "Make America Great Again" flag. On Wednesday, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sent a demand letter warning of legal action unless the school dropped the suspension. The school agreed to allow Jones to return to school that day but it refused to remove the suspension from her record. ... more »
Untitled
*Humans risk wiping out ONE MILLION natural species as the Earth's life-support system reaches breaking point, say UN scientists urging action* *This is just "think of a number" talk. There is no way they could have tracked one million species. Extinction of species goes on all the time -- with or without human intervention. And "extinct" species keep re-emergingAnd where is their "breaking point"? What is about to break? They do not say. Life seems to go on getting better and better all the time. Food has never before been as abundant or as cheap. China and India now fee... more »
A tale of two protests
“In my view, kids should be in class.” Premier Stephen McNeil March 2019 “Something is happening here But you don’t know what it is, Do you, Mr. Jones?” Ballad of a Thin Man Bob Dylan (1965) One Friday. Two student protests. Two very different (immediate) results. On Friday at noon — less than 24 hours […]
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Joe Biden "Tough on Crime" Speech California Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns Whale with harness could be Russian weapon, say Norwegian experts Poynter Institute Wants 515 Outlets Blacklisted, Including Blacklisted News Macron plans to shut elite school for future leaders Canadian Oil Driller Abruptly Shuts Down, Abandons 4,700 WellsCDOs That Nearly Destroyed The Global Economy Are Back, But Now They're "Safer"Ukraine Confirms DNC/Clinton Operative Sought 'Dirt' On Trump During 2016 ElectionNASA Prepares For "God ... more »
The Next Islamic State Battlefield Will Be in South Asia
*Lawrence Sellin* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] Washington has overlooked the explosive potential of Islamic State influence in Pakistan, which will only accelerate in the expected power vacuum left after a U.S. withdrawal. How did a small, fringe Wahhabi splinter group, led by a fiery speaker with a sixth-grade education, known mainly for defacing Buddhist symbols, carry out a coordinated and sophisticated terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka? The answer is, it didn’t, not without external support, both direct and indirect. The Sri Lanka attack reinforces the no... more »
The European Union Must Speed Up or Slow Down
*Amitai Etzioni* *Security, Eurasia* [image: Reuters] Brussels must seek further political integration or else dial back the economic unification that threatens to outstrip it. The conventional wisdom correctly points to the rise of European skeptics, those who opposed ever-increasing integration of the twenty-eight European Union member nations into one community. These skeptics include right-wing parties and populists, who are projected to gain as many as one out of every three members of the EU parliament in the 2019 elections. Euro-skeptics are blamed for Brexit and so raise ... more »
The Old School Way to Sink a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * Torpedo attack. *Of course, just like the carrier-based ATTDS, the CRAW anti-torpedo torpedo would also require testing to see if they work as well in practice as they do in theory. Nonetheless, the concept of adding an additional close-range layer of protection to submarines has merit given the increasing capability of modern torpedoes, and the sobering reality that a submarine would be lucky to survive even a single torpedo hit.* In 2019, an annual report released by the Department of Testing & Evaluation revealed that a potentially revolutiona... more »
This World War II Battle Defies the History Books (It Was Fought After the War Ended)
*WarIsBoring* *Security, * On V.E. Day — May 8, the day Germany capitulated to the Allies — Allied authorities hoped that the defenders of Odžak would follow. Rajkovačić, however, refused to surrender, and on May 9 the Partisans, in a tactic worthy of the trenches of World War I, brought artillery and bombarded the Ustaša positions before launching a disastrous frontal assault, which was met with an Ustaša counter-attack. When the Croatian armed forces surrendered on May 15, Rajkovačić again insisted on fighting on. *The Battle of Odžak remained an attritional contest until May 2... more »
Forget F-22 and F-35s: Japan Is Going Big Time (As in a 6th Generation Fighter)
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * And this is all we can tell you. *The above technologies check off many characteristics of conceptual sixth-generation fighter jets—(though optional-manning and drone-control have yet to be mentioned), and are individually pretty impressive. However, integrating them into a capable flying platform poses a much greater challenge, as does mass-producing them in a cost-efficient manner. The U.S. F-35, for example, suffered many delays and cost overruns due to difficulties integrating its many new technologies under concurrent development. Thus Japan... more »
Is This the Man Who Lost the Vietnam War?
*Warfare History Network* *Security, * [image: By Wolfe, Frank, White House photographer, Photographer (NARA record: 8466729) - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16738251] General William C. Westmoreland was a stalwart fighter and patriot through three separate wars. In 1989, this writer had occasion to interview four-star General William Childs Westmoreland, now 86, formerly U.S. military commander in South Vietnam and at the time of the interview a retired Chief of Staff of the Army. Not only had ... more »
The 1 Reason Britain's Army Might Have a Problem Fighting a War
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* Britain lacks the capacity to transport tanks to potential flashpoints such as Eastern Europe, according to a British defense analyst. Britain is planning to slash its tank fleet. Under budget pressure, the British are planning to upgrade only 148 of the current 227 Challenger 2 tanks. The modernized vehicles will remain operational out to 2035, with the remainder cannibalized for spare parts. This sent British tabloids shrieking that just 148 tanks would plunge Britain to fifty-sixth place in the world in tank numbers, behind Argentina and Ugan... more »
Surface temperature measurements confounded by urbanization around weather stations
“I’ve been saying for years that surface temperature measurements (and long term trends) have been affected by encroachment of urbanization on the placement of weather stations used to measure surface air temperature, and track long term climate. In doing so … Continue reading →
Biden Transparency
The Status Quo Joe Campaign says it wants to be transparent and will allow the media to attend all his fat-cat fundraising events, which Natasha Korecki of *Politico* wrote is "designed to address the Democratic base’s increasing discomfort with the role of big-money donors in politics." But, as with most things Biden/Trump, the bullshit has to be examined to for about 1.5 seconds to catch the basic underlying deceit. Don't blame poor old Biden. That's the way he was in the 70s, in the 80s, in the 90s-- and ever since. The deceit-- like with Trump, if not as blatant and not as pat...more »
New Blogs May 2019
Is it just me, or is the frequency of new blogs and the like picking up? Here are some newbies to have attracted my attention this last month. 1. Labour for a Socialist Europe (Twitter) 2. Leftist Report (Twitter) 3. Lewis Bassett (Twitter) 4. Rethinking Capitalism 5. The Alternative UK (Twitter) If you know of any new(ish) blogs and podcasts that haven't featured before then drop me a line via the comments, email, Facebook, or Twitter. Please note I'm looking for blogs that have started within the last 12 months or thereabouts. The new blog round up appears when I have enough ne... more »
Toto Moves His Research South
Toto spent the afternoon yesterday in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico, where he self-identified sometimes as a wild horse, and as a pronghorn at other times. Today he plans to spend Cinco de Mayo watching Santi Moar play soccer … Continue reading →
It bears repeating ..... again and again!
Is Anyone Listening? My name is *Greta Thunberg*. I am 16 years old. I come from Sweden. And I speak on behalf of future generations. I know many of you don’t want to listen to us – you say we are just children. But we’re only *repeating the message* of the united climate science. Many of you appear concerned that we are wasting valuable lesson time, but I assure you we will go back to school the moment you start listening to science and give us a future. Is that really too much to ask? In the year 2030 I will be 26 years old. My little sister Beata will be 23. Just like many of your ... more »
São Paulo Nightlife Guide for Sunday, May 5, 2019
[image: São Paulo music, rap in São Paulo, best clubs in São Paulo, best parties in São Paulo, best show in São Paulo] We have the top three picks for this Sunday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. MUSIC FESTIVAL: Festival de Pinheiros (Pinheiros) – A free, outdoor event in one of São Paulo’s coolest neighborhoods, the Pinheiros Festival will be happening this Sunday. From 11 AM to […] The post São Paulo Nightlife Guide for Sunday, May 5, 2019 appeared first on The Rio Times.
You Can’t Wade in the Same Waters Twice. Or can You? A Poet’s Point of View
By Harold Emert RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Our current perplexing age of an increasing number of persecuted persons fleeing their native countries for new lands and opportunities is producing one positive effect: new interesting writers. They include natives of Brazil living in the USA and other nations and those “gringos” from not only the […] The post You Can’t Wade in the Same Waters Twice. Or can You? A Poet’s Point of View appeared first on The Rio Times.
Melting permafrost ‘crisis’ debunked by historical record
Climate alarmists are resuscitating an old scare, claiming melting permafrost caused by modest global warming will accelerate the warming, thus creating rapid and runaway global warming. Objective historical data, however, conclusively debunk the scare. The post Melting permafrost ‘crisis’ debunked by historical record appeared first on CFACT.
UK Guardian: Nationalize oil companies Venezuela-style to combat global warming
Should America follow Venezuela's example and nationalize industry? How'd that work out for them? The post UK Guardian: Nationalize oil companies Venezuela-style to combat global warming appeared first on CFACT.
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