10 pm MDT
Some of China's Newest and Most Powerful Tanks are On India's Border
*Peter Suciu* *Security, Asia* While leaders on both sides have sought to de-escalate the situation with words, their actions actually speak volumes. The situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)—the de facto border between India and China along the Himalayas—is getting more tenuous. The two countries share what is one of the world’s longest unsettled borders and it is divided into western, middle and eastern sectors. The loose demarcation line was formed after the 1962 Sino-Indian War and looks no closer to be resolved any time soon. The most serious of the ongoing standoff... more »
Is HBO Max Coming to Quibi?
*Stephen Silver* *Technology, * Could Quibi score a big deal both Amazon and Roku have failed to make? HBO Max officially launched towards the end of May, and its opening weeks have been marked by controversy, both related to the service's decision to temporarily remove “Gone With the Wind” from its library, the since-alleviated confusion over the streaming service’s name, and parent company AT&T's failure to reach a deal to make HBO Max available on Roku or Amazon Fire devices. While there's no sign of that last problem being resolved, one of HBO Max's competitors is eying dea... more »
Stoke's Racist Lord Mayor
Ah, racism. How Stoke has missed thee. Nine years ago the British National Party were banished from the council chamber when, prior to the 2010 general election, Nick Griffin had proclaimed Stoke the jewel in the BNP crown. Well, sucks to be them. But the stench has never fully gone away. Every so often there's an unwelcome waft of the recent past when some councillor or another says or does something. For instance, the City Independents - when it was (ostensibly) the senior partner in the coalition running Stoke - put forward one Melanie Baddeley for the office of Deputy Mayor bac... more »
Mekong River Commission urges more transparency after record low water levels
The Watchers » Latest articles - 6 hours ago
The intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a statement released on Tuesday, June 15, 2020, that China should be more transparent over its dam operations on the Mekong River. The statement comes months after water levels downstream hit record lows...... Read more »
The Lyme Community Has Lost a Hero and a Friend: Dr. Neil Spector
We have just learned the heartbreaking news that Dr. Neil Spector, M.D. has passed away. Dr. Spector was a Duke oncologist, cancer researcher, author, and beloved friend to many. Dr. Spector was known in the Lyme community as the author of “Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician’s Search for True Healing,” published in 2015. In […] The post The Lyme Community Has Lost a Hero and a Friend: Dr. Neil Spector appeared first on Health Nut News.
Did A Monkey Pick Your Coconuts?
Did you know that pig-tailed macaques are intentionally bred and trained to harvest coconuts in some regions of the world? This makes us extremely sad – and mad. The monkeys, who are frequently punished, are always tethered to their handler and are not allowed to eat the coconuts they collect. There is no data to […] The post Did A Monkey Pick Your Coconuts? appeared first on Health Nut News.
Moscow Says U.S. F-22s Intercepted Russian Nuclear-Capable Bombers Near Alaska
*CNN*: *US military aircraft intercepted two Russian bombers and jets off coast of Alaska for second time in a week * US military aircraft intercepted two Russian bomber formations that entered the Air Defense Identification Zone off the coast of Alaska Tuesday evening, the second incident in the last week. The North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement Wednesday that the first formation of Russian aircraft consisted of two bombers, accompanied by two fighter jets, and was supported by an airborne early warning and control aircraft. The second formation consiste... more »
Was Hillary Clinton Recently ‘On Trial’ for Benghazi?
The former U.S. secretary of state's lawyers were in court in June 2020 for a hearing about a public records request, not for a Benghazi trial.
Russian Media: Discussions Underway Between The US & Russia To Swap Paul Whelan For Viktor Bout & Konstantin Yaroshenko
(L) Paul Whelan © REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva; (R) Viktor Bout Wikipedia / public domain *RT:* *US & Russia discuss swapping Paul Whelan for Viktor Bout & Konstantin Yaroshenko - Interfax sources * Two days after he was convicted on spying charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison, Moscow news agency Interfax reports that Paul Whelan may be traded for two Russians jailed in the US. It cites “an informed source.” The pair of Russians concerned are weapons dealer Victor Bout – serving 25 years – and pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who received a 20-year term. Interfax says it would be ... more »
Murderous US Military Agents and Left-wing Extremists Share Stage in the Fake News Sweepstakes
A USAF sergeant with ties to a Second Amendment group has been charged with murdering a federal security officer at a George Floyd protest to bring about police reform while Fox News deems Antifa and BLM'ers seeking the same "domestic terrorists." The post Murderous US Military Agents and Left-wing Extremists Share Stage in the Fake News Sweepstakes appeared first on MintPress News.
“Most Overpaid Cops in the Country” Seattle Police Rake in up to $300k per Year
As the Seattle City Council begins its inquest into cutting police funding, it could start with the massively bloated salaries of its top cops. The post “Most Overpaid Cops in the Country” Seattle Police Rake in up to $300k per Year appeared first on MintPress News.
How Fishing Is Bringing Back Indigenous Language in One Canadian Community
*Shelley Stagg Peterson, Kathy Sky* *Society, Americas* Elders use the community’s Indigenous language, Oji-Cree, to reinforce what the children are learning in their Indigenous language classes. In a northern Ontario First Nation community, a council member who also drove the children’s school bus volunteered to take three primary teachers and their students to a nearby river. They had heard that the suckers were running. It was May, the time of the sucker moon; time for community members to harvest the fish. Community Elders used traditional Indigenous teaching methods that inv... more »
House Republicans: Saudi Arabia Needs Weapons to Fight Iran’s “Massive Geostrategic Threat”
*Matthew Petti* *Security, Middle East* “Before we sit here in the United States and criticize Saudi Arabia too much, let’s imagine we had a terrorist group on our southern border shooting missiles at us.” Republican lawmakers defended arms sales to Saudi Arabia as they played up the “massive geostrategic threat” posed by Iran at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia are under fire once again as Democrats accuse the Trump administration of covering up an investigation into last year’s U.S.-Saudi weapons contract. But Republicans argued that t... more »
At Least 20 Indian Army Soldiers Killed in Face-off with Chinese Troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley
*Peter Suciu* *Security, Asia* A dangerous escalation between two nuclear powers. The potential for a border war that has been simmering at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China could reach a boiling point as hostilities increased on Monday night—which resulted in the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers. Initial reports said that Indian Army Colonel B. Santosh Babu, along with soldiers Havildar Palani and Sepoy Ojha were killed in what Indian media has described as a “violent face-off” with Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The “massive escalatio... more »
AT&T to Close 250 Stores, Cut Thousands of Jobs. Here's Why.
*Stephen Silver* *Technology, * The layoff news comes the day after T-Mobile, following the completion of their merger with Sprint, announced job cuts of their own. The latest major corporation to announce big job cuts, at least partially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, is AT&T. Axios reported that AT&T is closing 250 retail stores, having an impact on 1,300 retail jobs, across both AT&T and Cricket Wireless-branded stores. In addition, the company is "planning widespread job cuts that include managers and executives, in addition to 3,400 technician and clerical jobs," ... more »
Movie Review: Why You Should Watch 7500 on Amazon Prime
*Stephen Silver* *Culture, Europe* [image: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6436726/mediaviewer/rm3296176641] 7500 is a taut, engaging action thriller that never feels like a gimmick, even though it sort of is one. Directed by first-timer Patrick Vollrath, “7500” debuted last year at the Locarno Film Festival, and arrives Thursday on Amazon Prime. It’s a plane hijacking thriller, of the sort we’ve seen in everything from “Air Force One“ to “United 93” to “Snakes on a Plane,” but with a key difference: The film, running for just over 90 minutes, is told virtually in real time, and ca... more »
Moon Jae-in Is Getting Tired of North Korea's Growing Aggression
*Daniel R. DePetris* *Security, * President Moon Jae-in is tired of taking abuse from the North—and he’s starting to lose his patience. President Moon Jae-in is tired of taking abuse from the North—and he’s starting to lose his patience. The South Korean president has done everything in his power to keep a cool head. He has demonstrated stoicism and a virtually unlimited calmness despite North Korea’s ever more brazen antics. When Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, ordered the severing of phone lines between North and South Korean officials, Seoul took an evenhanded stance and t... more »
LG’s 77-Inch C9 OLED Beauty Is Now $500 Cheaper
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Technology, * Is it time to pull the trigger? If you’re an OLED fan and you’ve always envied those much more affordable monster screens of QLEDs and other LCD-based HDTVs, you may have just caught a break. It’s still not cheap by any means, but LG’s 77-inch C9 OLED can be yours right now for $4,500, which is $500 less than what it was retailing for just a few months ago. In the often-cutthroat high-end HDTV war, the Korean company’s OLED technology is more often than not considered the best in the world, and it has proven on an annual basis why it should be... more »
Documents Reveal That US Military Is Planning For A “Gen Z Bitcoin Rebellion”
*John Vibes* - Before Bitcoin became the newest trend for silicon valley bros, it was a tool for hackers and revolutionaries who wanted to undermine the banking system.
Protesters Who Attend Black Lives Matter Rallies In Australia Face Imprisonment And $1000 Fine
*John Vibes* - Protesters in Australia who take part in demonstrations to support the Black Lives Matter movement will be facing fines of up to $1000.
Weave Your Universe
*Elva Thompson* - The universe is also mental and is also made up like a web.
Free States: Radical Decentralization; the War for Hearts and Minds
*Jon Rappoport* - It all starts with the IDEA of the germ. Once people buy the idea and the story, everything follows.
Tiger
Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) or Tiger I Blogging about a tank, and not just any tank, but the venerable Tiger 1 is bound to meet with scrutiny from people who read this blog and are more thoroughly read on the subject than I am. The marriage of the 8.8cm Kw.K. 36 L/56 gun in […] The post Tiger appeared first on Virtual Mirage.
Cannabis firm Acreage gets $15M loan at 60% interest rate
Marijuana multistate operator Acreage Holdings has secured a $15 million short-term loan with a whopping 60% yearly interest rate, the company said Wednesday. The secured note, obtained from a private investor, matures in four months, according to a news release. Acreage put up as collateral its marijuana business facilities in Florida, Illinois and New Jersey […] Cannabis firm Acreage gets $15M loan at 60% interest rate is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Will The U.S. Leave Afghanistan?
A U.S. soldier sits aboard a CH-47 helicopter during an advisory mission in Southeast Afghanistan on Sept. 5, 2019. Photo credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nicholas Brown-Bell via DVIDS *Jonathan Schroden, Lawfare:* *Will the United States Really Go to Zero Troops in Afghanistan?* In the final U.S. presidential debate of 2016, candidate Donald Trump sharply criticized his opponent Hillary Clinton on the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011. Specifically, he claimed that by withdrawing all U.S. forces from that country, “she gave us ISIS because her and Obama created this ... more »
Gotham City Digest
(Gentlemen, start your sphincters.) ------------------------------ Perhaps it's time BLM started firming up into an actual political movement and drafting their own candidates for the 2022 midterms. ------------------------------ Let's hope that Barr doesn't spike the Robert Fuller investigation, too. ------------------------------ Fox "News" calls it a "collage." Bullshit. It was deliberately misleading, poorly done Photoshopping. ------------------------------ Michelle Cottle's got him nailed. ------------------------------ Considering the violent rightward wrenc... more »
Republicans in Senate offer Enforcement Reform …
NOW ANTI-FACISTS — Now we will see just who is willing to actually work in Congress to make certain your concerns are addressed…. Who will it be and if it isn’t Democrats then what are you going to say? At that point it becomes PUT UP OR SHUT UP The Democrats are trying to smear Rick Scott and destroy his reputation. That is unacceptable. The man is a great asset to the American people in Congress no matter what side of the aisle. Those who are trying to tear him down DESERVE TO BE CALLED RACISTS. The Black community I … Continue reading →
Is China Downplaying Its Clash With India?
India said 20 of its soldiers died after clashing with Chinese troops on Monday. Photo: Handout *SCMP:* *China keen to play down India clash before key meeting with US, insiders say* * Beijing ‘wants to de-escalate the situation ahead of the Yang-Pompeo’ talks, according to source close to People’s Liberation Army * China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi is set to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hawaii on Wednesday China’s decision not to release details of how many soldiers might have been hurt or killed in a clash with Indian troops on Monday is probably motivated by a desir... more »
Hawley & DOJ Target Big Tech’s Legal Protections
[image: hawley-doj-target-big-tech-s-legal-protections] Senator Josh Hawley introduced legislation that would limit tech companies’ immunity from lawsuits, while the DOJ is expected to make similar proposals.
Death Count From India-China Border Battle in the Dozens, Sources Say
[image: death-count-from-india-china-border-battle-in-the-dozens-sources-say] The casualties from a confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops may be higher than originally believed, raising tensions between the two nations.
Aunt Jemima Is No More, Uncle Ben About To Be Fired. “Racist” Food Images To Be Banned.
[image: aunt-jemima-is-no-more-uncle-ben-about-to-be-fired-racist-food-images-must-be-banned] After getting rid of Confederate statues, *Cops*, and *Gone with the Wind*, the BLM crowd is now targeting such harmful images as Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben.
After Anti-Racism Protests, UNLV Removes Statue, Dartmouth to Remove Weather Vane
Dartmouth College will replace a weather vane that “represents an offensive image of a Native American” and the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) has removed the statue of its mascot that many say is connected to the Confederacy. These actions come amid anti-racism protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd due […]
U of Alaska President Apologizes for Comments on Diversity
University of Alaska president Jim Johnsen on Tuesday apologized for not acknowledging “my own white privilege” in what many said were his tone deaf recent comments on diversity, reported KTVA. His comments were criticized by many faculty at the University of Alaska system. The university’s faculty union called for his resignation for these comments and […]
Law Deans Establish Call to Action Website to Address Racism in Higher Education
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many Black women law deans stayed connected on Zoom and discussed their academic work and the challenges of remote instruction. However, after the death of George Floyd due to police brutality, they started talking about how to confront racism at colleges and universities.
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions On Syria That Includes Assad's Wife
*France 24:* *US imposes new sanctions on Assad entourage, vows 'sustained campaign' against Syrian regime* The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wife and dozens of others as it vowed a vast pressure campaign under a new law that has already rattled the war-torn nation's economy. "We anticipate many more sanctions and we will not stop until Assad and his regime stop their needless, brutal war against the Syrian people," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. He called the sanctions "the beginning of what will be a ... more »
Drug driving laws so 'grossly unfair' I can't stay in the job, magistrate says
He's been dogged by the trauma of horrific cases and faced death threats, but Magistrate David Heilpern says he's mainly stepping down because of "grossly unfair" laws that require drivers who may have smoked cannabis days earlier to be stripped of their licence.
Ex-Atlanta policeman charged with murder of Rayshard Brooks
Just In - 7 hours ago
Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe is charged with murder after the shooting death of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks.
Two consecutive dry wet seasons spark concern among NT fire management experts
In Australia's Top End, a dedicated team of specialists is warning of a dangerous bushfire season as dry and hot conditions dry out savanna grasses much earlier than usual.
'Like Hills Hoist and Vegemite': Blundstone boots celebrate 150 years
Diggers in WWI and WWII wore them, as did an Aussie football legend. While they have been likened to "iconic brands like Hills Hoist and Vegemite", Blundstone boots have had their ups and downs in the company's 150-year history.
In the battle of the AFL's big men, Grundy and Gawn stand tallest
Just In - 7 hours ago
Melbourne's Max Gawn and Collingwood's Brodie Grundy are, despite their differing styles, the AFL's best ruckmen, write Cody Atkinson and Sean Lawson.
Some people tried to play it safe with their super during COVID-19. Now they'll suffer the most
Shares have been in flux, the jobs market is in crisis, and now a recession. And yet your superannuation might actually be OK.
Why inflight movies could be switched off on your next international flight as airlines fight to survive amid COVID-19
The Federal Tourism Minister says international visitors will not be allowed into Australia until at least next year. For airlines, that's probably the least of their worries. Thanks to COVID-19, survival is now the name of the game.
Controversial coal operation under investigation after allegations of illegal mining
New Acland Coal's mine west of Brisbane is being investigated for potential non-compliance with its licence, which opponents allege has unlawfully mined $500 million of coal.
Please don't hug Bugs Bunny: What you need to know about theme parks reopening
To avoid catching coronavirus, there are some COVID-19 safe measures you'll need to adhere to if you're planning on visiting.
Queensland Government's debt collection agency referred to corruption watchdog
The Queensland government agency responsible for collecting more than $1 billion of state debts — the State Penalty Enforcement Registry (SPER) — is being assessed for "allegations of corrupt conduct" after a referral by its own department.
'White Lives Matter' painted on statue of African-American tennis great Arthur Ashe
Just In - 7 hours ago
A statue of African American tennis legend Arthur Ashe in Virginia has is vandalised with the words "White Lives Matter".
NSW quarantine hotel bill blows out
The cost of housing tens of thousands of travellers quarantined for coronavirus in Sydney rises to over $50 million as one expert calls for a long-term quarantine option, similar to the facilities on Christmas Island.
Farmers worried UK deal not enough to replace lost barley trade with China
Farmers say the Federal Government has underestimated the cost of China's decision to place an 80 per cent tariff on Australian-grown barley.
Secret documents give Reserve Bank's grim view of property market
Highly restricted documents from inside Australia's central bank contradict a much rosier public view the Reserve Bank of Australia has been displaying about the billions of dollars and millions of jobs tied up in housing, construction and real estate.
With $25,000 HomeBuilder grants and house prices falling, how do you decide between renovating and moving?
Just In - 7 hours ago
Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to decide between renovating and moving — and how to add value to your existing home.
Why are so many Indonesian children dying from coronavirus?
There remain grave concerns about the high rate of children dying from COVID-19 in Indonesia, even as the country transitions to relaxed social-distancing restrictions.
The 'silver bullet' for coronavirus might one day cure cancer. So how does it work?
Hanging out for a coronavirus vaccine? Here's your three best hopes — and why they could be dashed.
'Disinformation is Australia's expertise': China hits back over social media report
Just In - 7 hours ago
China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has accused Australia of spreading disinformation and manipulating the coronavirus pandemic for its own gain.
Kliff could produce important work!
*WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020But would the Times permit it?:* Sarah Kliff joined the New York Times a bit more than one year ago. Unlike others at the Times, she lacks the twin excuses of incompetence and ignorance. Today, at the very top of page A1, she suggests the way a person like herself might perform some large-scale, major health care reporting. In the bulk of today's report, Kliff reports price gouging by certain concerns who are performing coronavirus testing. Along the way, as she starts her report, she places this apparent gouging within a much larger context: KLIFF (6/17/... more »
"Events in Minneapolis might have initially seemed like a historic lightning rod that could launch a deeper discussion about how to achieve social change, uniting us all in fighting discrimination. Instead, it is fast turning into a quagmire of censorious intolerance." #QotD
*"Events in Minneapolis might have initially seemed like a historic lightning rod that could launch a deeper discussion about how to achieve social change, uniting us all in fighting discrimination. Instead, it is fast turning into a quagmire of censorious intolerance. If you want to initiate a broader debate about racism, is it really healthy to create an atmosphere in which it is not only statues that are being toppled but a range of cultural artefacts, TV series, celebrities, columnists and controversial broadcasters."* ~ Claire Fox, from her article 'How a Serious Issue With ... more »
The "Second Wave" - What Might it Look Like?
*What the "Second Wave" might look like.* *ISIS-type gangs marauding in American cities. * *This photo of Antifa demonstrators was * *taken within the past several weeks.* Folks, I left my *last post* up for two days...considering that IMO *it was one of the most important posts I've written in a while. * It contained a new POV on the current *Antifa/BLM riots. * I surmise that they're the same strategy as used by the PerpZ when they introduced* ISIS* in all its varieties into the Middle East. I even suggested in my comment to that post that* it could actually BE the same entities t... more »
Close U.S.-China Encounters In The South China Sea Raise Conflict Risk
*SCMP: * *China-US close encounters ‘raise conflict risk in South China Sea’* * Warships from both countries came within 100m of each other in April, Chinese military insider says * Washington and Beijing need to find a way to stop such incidents escalating and going out of control, maritime analyst says China and the US are running the risk of conflict and should come up with a way to manage such crises as their warships engage in close encounters in the South China Sea, according to maritime strategy specialists. A Chinese military insider said that in one incident in April, ves... more »
Black Americans, crucial workers in crises, emerge worse off – not better
Calvin Schermerhorn, Professor of History, Arizona State University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 7 hours ago
In many national crises, black Americans have been essential workers – but serving in crucial roles has not resulted in economic equality.
Did a Defunded Police Department Sell Off Its Nuclear Submarine?
A routine review of content labeled satire.
Officer Who Fatally Shot Rayshard Brooks to be Charged with Felony Murder
Police body camera video shows Brooks and officers having a relatively calm and respectful conversation for more than 40 minutes before things rapidly turned violent.
College Sports Stakeholders Prepare for a New Normal Under COVID-19
Athletic directors, coaches, conference commissioners and student-athletes await a clear vision of what the future holds. Campuses throughout the U.S. are closed except for essential staff and, in some cases, a limited number of students who are allowed to remain in the dorms due to lack of anywhere else to go. Classes are being taught […]
Racism in Higher Education: Why HBCUs Are a Safe Choice in 2020
Colleges and universities across the nation are scrambling to address the Black Lives Matter protests resulting from the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other Black Americans killed by law enforcement. Many of these institutional reactions have appeared as statements of support for the Black community, but have failed to come with actions to address systemic racism or police brutality on or near campuses. These failures strengthen the resolve of HBCUs as important sites for Black student support and safety.
On Social Justice, Black Lives Matter and the Power of Prayer
As a Black Man in America I pray that God Bless the “Black Lives Matter” movement for its continued critical advocacy and activism for social justice; and to publicly disassociate from factions that promote and further perpetuate fear, violence and destruction linked with Blackness.
Who’s Really Looting America?As hundreds of thousands take to...
Robert Reich - 7 hours ago
*Who’s Really Looting America?*As hundreds of thousands take to the streets to protest ruthless police killings of Black Americans and centuries of systemic racism, Donald Trump and his enablers have been quick to cast the protesters as violent “looters” – and distract from the real looters of America. So far, over 10,000 Americans have been arrested during the wave of protests. Yet a decade ago, after Wall Street bankers looted America through predatory lending and securities fraud – often preying upon people of color and causing American households to lose roughly $19 trillion ... more »
7 Ways 2020 Has Exposed AmericaIf we learn nothing else from...
Robert Reich - 7 hours ago
*7 Ways 2020 Has Exposed America* If we learn nothing else from these dark times, here are 7 lessons we should take away from 2020: *1. Workers keep America going, not billionaires.* American workers are forced to put their lives on the line to provide essential services, even as their employers fail to provide them with adequate protective gear. Meanwhile, America’s billionaires have retreated to their mansions, yachts and estates. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos returned to his 165,000-acre West Texas ranch while Amazon’s warehouse workers toil in close proximity to each other, often wi... more »
The Poet: Denise Levertov, "Variation On A Theme By Rilke"
*"Variation On A Theme By Rilke"* ("The Book of Hours, Book I, Poem 1, Stanza 1") "A certain day became a presence to me; there it was, confronting me- a sky, air, light: a being. And before it started to descend from the height of noon, it leaned over and struck my shoulder as if with the flat of a sword, granting me honor and a task. The day's blow rang out, metallic- or it was I, a bell awakened, and what I heard was my whole self saying and singing what it knew: I can." ~ Denise Levertov
Trump Says DC Will Never Be A State-- A Majority Of Congress Disagrees With Him
*Moscow Mitch and Putin's Bitch say "Nyet" to DC statehood* As of last July, the population of Washington DC was 705,749, about the same as Alaska, North Dakota and Vermont. The population of Wyoming was 578,759. Each of those states has 2 senators-- just like California (pop- 39,512,223), Texas (pop- 28,995,881), Florida (pop- 21,477,737) and New York (pop- 19,453,561). Each of those states also has a member of the House (as do Montana, Delaware and South Dakota). The citizens of Washington, DC have no senators and no member of the House representing their interests in Congress. Ne... more »
Trump Says Less Testing = Less Covid. Is He Right?
Pundits are having a field day making fun of President Trump's recent comment that less coronavirus testing would probably result in less Covid in the country. They accuse him of doltish behavior and head-in-the-sand thinking. Do they have a point? What are the merits of Trump's assertions? Also in today's program, will the "solution" to bias in social media be worse than the problem itself? Watch today's Liberty Report:
Nova Scotia appeals court quashes conviction, grants new trial for William Sandeson
Nova Scotia’s court of appeal has quashed his conviction and granted William Sandeson a new murder trial, determining in a decision released Wednesday that his first trial should’ve been declared a mistrial after the traitorous conduct of a defence investigator came to light. In June 2017, a jury found Sandeson, now 27, guilty of first […]
Chinese State News Issues Warning To India Over Border Clashes
Photo: Xinhua *Global Times:* *China urges India to investigate border incident * China demands that India carry out a thorough investigation into the incident, severely punish those who should be held accountable, strictly discipline Indian frontline troops, and immediately stop all provocative actions so as to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Indian foreign minister during a phone call on Wednesday regarding the Monday border confrontation that caused casualties on both sides in the Galwan Valley. *Rea... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Craig, Colorado, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"Sometimes..."
"I know something of shame... how can we not all feel it? We are all small-minded people, creeping about the earth grubbing for our own adventure and making the very mistakes for which we want to humiliate our neighbors... I think we wake up every day with high intentions and by dusk we have routinely fallen short. Sometimes I think God created the darkness just so he didn't have to look at us all the time." - Helen Simonson, “Major Pettigrew"
The Energy Update – Week of June 15, 2020
This week the team highlights new articles focusing on Joe Biden’s plans to ban energy production through America’s offshore resources,… The post The Energy Update – Week of June 15, 2020 appeared first on IER.
Is NASCAR Doing Away with Traditions Such as the National Anthem?
In June 2020, NASCAR announced that it was banning the display of the Confederate flag, prompting rumors that other game day traditions were being eliminated, too.
12 Year Anniversary Of Musings On Iraq
On September 11, 2001 I saw former CIA director and neoconservative James Woolsey on CBS tell Dan Rather that the United States needed to take out Saddam Hussein for the terrorist attacks upon New York and Washington D.C. even if he had nothing to do with them. I couldn't understand why he would say that, but it stuck in my mind. In 2002 when the Bush administration started its propaganda campaign to convince the public for the invasion of Iraq I decided to research why the U.S. was going to war. I first started writing on message boards. In 2008 that led to the creation of Musings O... more »
Massive hailstorm hits northeastern Spain, expected to drastically affect European stone fruit season
The Watchers » Latest articles - 8 hours ago
A massive hailstorm hit the stone fruit growing areas in northeastern Spain on Tuesday evening, June 16. 2020, causing extensive damage right before the harvest. According to growers, this is a big disaster that will drastically affect not only the Spanish but also...... Read more »
Chile mejor sin TLC condenó llamado empresarial a reactivar el pernicioso TPP-11
bilaterals.org - 8 hours ago
17-Jun-2020 Polémica causó en organizaciones sociales el llamado que hicieran dos históricos dirigentes del empresariado chileno al Senado para apurar la aprobación del TPP11, una aprobación que permitiría, dijeron los dirigentes patronales, reactivar la economía del país durante la pandemia.
The Murders of Floyd and Halak Exposed the US and Israel as Settler-Colonial Enterprises
The systemic oppression faced by blacks and Palestinians in the United States and Israel is indicative of a deeply rooted racism rarely found in true democracies. The post The Murders of Floyd and Halak Exposed the US and Israel as Settler-Colonial Enterprises appeared first on MintPress News.
“It Will Take Me Just Under Twenty Five Years to Pay off the First Surgery” – Journalist Blinded by Cops Speaks Out
"The only reason I’m dealing with this so well is I think poverty and low wage work is just as brutal and visceral as losing an eye to a police bullet.” - Linda Tirado The post “It Will Take Me Just Under Twenty Five Years to Pay off the First Surgery” – Journalist Blinded by Cops Speaks Out appeared first on MintPress News.
The System Is Rigged: Qualified Immunity Is How the Police State Stays in Power
Lawyers tend to offer complicated, convoluted explanations for the doctrine of qualified immunity, which was intended to insulate police from frivolous lawsuits, but its real purpose, writes constitutional attorney John Whitehead, is to rig the system, The post The System Is Rigged: Qualified Immunity Is How the Police State Stays in Power appeared first on MintPress News.
"We Are All..."
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
World News Briefs -- June 17, 2020
*ABC News Online:* *China and India agree to peacefully solve border tensions after fatal clash* India and China have sought to ease tensions after flexing their muscles in a fatal clash along a disputed border that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. The skirmish on Monday in the desolate alpine area of Ladakh, in Kashmir, followed changes by India to the political status of Kashmir amid a geopolitical tug-of-war in the region. After a few tense days, Chinese officials said on Wednesday that both sides had agreed to peacefully resolve their Himalayan border dispute through dialogue. ... more »
The Fed is unlikely to monetize the debt
With the recent explosive growth in the Fed’s balance sheet, there’s been a lot of misleading discussion of the Fed “monetizing the debt”. Debt monetization occurs when a central bank prints high-powered money and uses the funds to buy interest-earning assets such as Treasury debt. In the US, high-powered money is currency (not bank reserves). […] The post The Fed is unlikely to monetize the debt appeared first on Econlib.
MSM chose to sell ads and printing to China ignoring patriotism
About 80 percent of all economic espionage prosecutions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) allege conduct that would benefit the Chinese state, and there is at least some nexus to China in around 60 percent of all trade secret theft cases. — DoJ China Initiative The Justice Department’s special China unit is aggressively prosecuting technology theft and other illicit activities by Beijing’s spies and government officials, a senior department official said in an interview. “It’s an objective fact that the number of economic espionage investigations has increased dramatic... more »
Pawns get smacked and activist professionals walk away
HINT – NOT THE ONES BEHIND THE SCENES EGGING PEOPLE ON Three indicted for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles, face life in prison . New York Post Vincent Barone June 12, 2020 An upstate woman and two Brooklyn lawyers were indicted Friday on federal explosives and arson charges for allegedly tossing Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles during George Floyd protests in New York City. Samantha Shader, 27, of Catskill, is accused of hurling the makeshift explosive at an NYPD vehicle occupied by four police officers on early Saturday morning, May 30. Prosecutors allege Sh... more »
Primula recalls cheese due to Clostridium botulinum
Primula Ltd. has recalled cheese spread in tubes in the United Kingdom and Ireland because of possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum due to a production fault. Primula, part of the Kavli Group, recalled 10 varieties after finding one product contained Clostridium botulinum during a routine test and due to concerns other items in the range... Continue Reading
‘Never seen anything like it’: Bear cub spotted in Alberta with unique white head
One couple was treated to an ultra-rare sight on their Albertan road trip. What they thought was just an ordinary family of grizzlies turned out to be more after they realized one baby had an all-white head. Parks Canada said they're putting "measures in place" to protect the white-headed bear cub. Calgary resident Julia Turner Butterwick told Narcity she and her family were on their way home from Banff National Park when they spotted the strange bear. It was Sunday, June 14. "We've seen quite a few bears on our drive, we saw probably three or four grizzlies and three black bears th... more »
Elizabeth Warren: “The Most Acceptable” White Candidate for Biden VP Pick
[image: elizabeth-warren-the-most-acceptable-white-candidate-for-biden-vp-pick] It seems likely that Democrat nominee Joe Biden will choose a Black woman to be his running mate. But at least one white woman is reportedly still in the running —Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Brooklyn Jewish Community Residents and Leaders Reopen Park Closed by City
[image: brooklyn-jewish-community-residents-and-leaders-reopen-park-closed-by-city] After the New York City Parks and Recreation department closed numerous parks and playgrounds, residents of Brooklyn Jewish neighborhoods cut the locks on several park gates.
Truckers Pressure Congress to Pass Concealed-carry Reciprocity Law
[image: truckers-pressure-congress-to-pass-concealed-carry-reciprocity-law] After seeing fellow drivers attacked by rioters in the recent protests, many truck drivers are calling on Congress to pass a concealed-carry reciprocity law.
Ukrainian Lawmen Stop $6M Bribe Connected to Burisma Chief Whom Biden Helped in 2016.
[image: ukrainian-lawmen-stop-6m-bribe-connected-to-burisma-chief-whom-biden-s-intervention-helped-in-2016] Ukrainian law enforcement have intercepted a $6 million cash bribe to stop the authorities from investigating Mykola Zlochevsky, the chieftain of Burisma Holdings.
Our new team investigating London’s role in international corruption
A new project will investigate London's role as the home of international finance that allows criminal activity and corruption
President Trump Announces “PREVENTS” Task Force Roadmap – 2:15pm ET
This afternoon President Trump announces the PREVENTS Task Force Roadmap which highlights the admin’s work to prevent veteran suicide and offer mental health resources to veterans. Anticipated Start Time 2:15pm ET WH Livestream Link – Fox News Livestream Link – … Continue reading →
Three Reasons Moon Jae-in Can Bounce Back from North Korea's Explosive Antics
*Rob York* *Politics, Asia* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2E3H9TQLAC&share=true] His political opponents should not underestimate him. Two months ago, Moon Jae-in bestrode South Korea with a stature belied by his average height. He was that rarest of entities in South Korean politics: a president approaching his fourth year but is not a lame duck, thanks to his party’s historic victory in April’s National Assembly elections. What meager success stories the opposition party did enjoy—the election, for the first time, of North Ko... more »
Autoimmune Disease: How to Turn White Blood Cells From Attacking the Body to Protecting It
*Peter Cockerill, David C. Wraith* *Health, World* Autoimmune diseases are currently treated using immunosuppressive drugs, which suppress the whole immune system. For most of us, the immune system works to protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens. But for people with autoimmune conditions, the body’s white blood cells instead perceive other cells and tissues in the body to be a threat and attacks them. While some immune disorders, like allergies, can sometimes be treated, autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) remain incurable. Our research ... more »
5 Awesome HDTV Deals Ahead of Father’s Day (From TCL, Samsung and More)
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Technology, Americas* Which would you choose? The NBA playoffs and the MLB season might be on hold, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spice up your living room with a new TV set in preparation for when pro sports do start up again. And this week, ahead of Father’s Day, is indeed the perfect time to splurge on one for yourself or your dad. It’s not surprising to see some great deals already being offered right now, and to save you the hassle of searching for them, here are five awesome budget-friendly options to consider. First up is the 75-inch TCL 4 Series 4K... more »
Hitler's Tank-Killer: Meet Nazi Germany’s World War II Anti-Tank Rifle
*Caleb Larson* *History, Europe* [image: By U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY - http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_22.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8496602] Though the gun used some pretty unique ammunition, it lacked stopping power—an essential requirement for an anti-tank gun. The advent of the tank in 1916 during the First World War spurred the development of anti-tank warfare. Large-sized landmines were a static defense that depended on successfully estimating what paths through no-man’s land tanks would use—a pure guessin... more »
Why Donald Trump Can't Win in North Korea
*Robert E. Kelly* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] There is the very real possibility that Pyongyang's latest provocation is an outburst over failed negotiations. Yet again, North Korea has expressed its displeasure over inter-Korean relations. This week it destroyed a facility wherein inter-Korean meetings occurred. Ostensibly this was to protest leafletting by anti-North Korean groups in South Korea. These groups place leaflets and flashkeys into balloons to float into the North. But this seems like a disproportionate response. The North Korean government’s recent rhetoric has... more »
"Lockdown Adventures in the Calchaquí Valley"
*"Lockdown Adventures in the Calchaquí Valley"* *Week 14 of the Quarantine* by Bill Bonner "Wow! May retail sales show biggest one-month increase of ALL TIME, up 17.7%. Far bigger than projected. Looks like a BIG DAY FOR THE STOCK MARKET, AND JOBS!" – Donald J. Trump SAN MARTIN, ARGENTINA – "Wow! It’s amazing what happens when you lose your mind. Everything seems possible. You can even believe that giving out $2 trillion in fake money will make people better off. Are the May retail numbers a sign of a wonderful economy on the road to a rapid recovery? Of course not. They are a sign ... more »
Arkansas awards sixth medical marijuana grow permit as sales rise
Arkansas regulators approved a sixth cultivation license to support a rapidly growing medical cannabis market nearing $100 million in total sales. Carpenter Farms Medical Group, a minority-owned company, was awarded the license Tuesday, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Currently, only three growers have sold products, but two additional ones are expected to harvest […] Arkansas awards sixth medical marijuana grow permit as sales rise is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Michigan recreational cannabis sales top medical for first time
Adult-use marijuana sales in Michigan surpassed medical cannabis sales on a weekly basis for the first time since the state’s recreational market launched Dec. 1, 2019. According to MLive.com, recreational marijuana sales totaled $10.02 million between June 8 and June 14, beating out the MMJ market’s $9.97 million in sales for the same time period. […] Michigan recreational cannabis sales top medical for first time is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
The People Will Rise
*Julian Rose* - We need to ditch government and become “self governing” so as to run our own lives on our own terms and at our own discretion.
The Heart Tribe – Beyond the Separation of Race, Gender and Beliefs Comes Unity
*Patrick James Hennessey* - When do we but look beyond our victim identity to realize at the depths of our hearts and souls that we are truly one tribe?
2:00PM Water Cooler 6/17/2020
~ Today's Water Cooler ~
"We Never Know..."
"We never know when our last day on earth will be. So, love with full sincerity, believe with true faith, and hope with all of your might. Better to have lived in truth and discovered life, than to have lived half heartedly and died long before you ever ceased breathing." - Cristina Marrero
Let's help Ari Munzner over the finish line
A week ago I wrote about Ari Munzner, a 90-year-old artist who lost much of his life's work when fires sparked during the riots in Minneapolis destroyed his studio. Undaunted, he's doing his best to pick up the pieces and start again. You can read his story in more detail at this link. Ari's daughter Tamara set up a GoFundMe fund-raiser to help raise money to restore those of his works that can be salvaged, and set up a new studio. Readers of this blog have already responded generously, for which my grateful thanks. The fundraiser had reached only about $4,500 when I publicized... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 17, 2020
The aircraft carriers Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz and their strike groups underway in the western Pacific in 2017. Defense Secretary James Mattis wants to see this kind of thing more often, but to do it could fundamentally change the Navy. (James Griffin/Navy) *NZ Herald: **South China Sea: Beijing warns of 'countermeasures' after US Navy deploys three aircraft carriers into Pacific Ocean* Three US Navy aircraft carriers have been deployed in the Pacific Ocean for the first time in three years, in a show of force that's prompted a backlash from China. The Trump ad... more »
Boris Johnson involved in minor crash after protester incident
Just In - 10 hours ago
Downing Street said no-one was hurt in the incident on Tuesday afternoon which left a large dent in the boot of the armoured Jaguar the UK Prime Minister was travelling in.
'Disinformation is Australia's expertise': China hits back over social media report
Just In - 10 hours ago
China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has accused Australia of spreading disinformation and manipulating the coronavirus pandemic for its own gain, following comments from Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
China raises emergency warning level over 'extremely grave' Beijing outbreak
Just In - 10 hours ago
China raises its emergency warning level and cancels more than half of all flights to Beijing in response to a coronavirus outbreak in the capital, while Sweden's Parliament holds a memorial service for the country's COVID-19 victims.
Cancel the White Men — And What’s Left?
June 15, 2020 by Patrick J. Buchanan Make America Think Again! – Share Pat’s Columns… Liberals will fight for the right of Marxist radicals to burn the American flag to show their hatred of it but cannot tolerate working folks flying the battle flag of the Confederacy to show their love of it. “Can … Continue reading Cancel the White Men — And What’s Left? →
Ben Carson: America Needs to ‘Grow up’ and Stop ‘Being Offended by Everything’ – Michael Foust
Michael Foust | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Monday, June 15, 2020 Ben Carson: America Needs to ‘Grow up’ and Stop ‘Being Offended by Everything’ HUD Secretary Ben Carson on Sunday urged Americans to stop being offended “by everything” and to “grow up.” Carson, the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, made the comments … Continue reading Ben Carson: America Needs to ‘Grow up’ and Stop ‘Being Offended by Everything’ – Michael Foust →
Trump DOJ: States Must Loosen Church Restrictions If They Allow Protests – Michael Foust
Michael Foust | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Trump DOJ: States Must Loosen Church Restrictions If They Allow Protests The Trump Justice Department is pressuring Washington Gov. Jon Inslee to loosen restrictions on churches by arguing the state’s policy of allowing unlimited peaceful protests while capping houses of worship is discriminatory and likely … Continue reading Trump DOJ: States Must Loosen Church Restrictions If They Allow Protests – Michael Foust →
Reminder: The First Legal Slave Owner in America was a Black Man
Jim Hoft June 17, 2020 Here’s something you won’t read about in the US history books. The first legal slave owner in America was black and he owned white slaves. Advertisement – story continues below Anthony Johnson (BC 1600 – 1670) was an Angolan who achieved freedom in the early 17th century Colony of Virginia. … Continue reading Reminder: The First Legal Slave Owner in America was a Black Man →
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 2020 | The Illustrated Primer
June 5, 2020 In the final year of English Civil War (1642-1651), Thomas Hobbes wrote in his book Leviathan: “Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of Warre, where every man is Enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and … Continue reading Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 2020 | The Illustrated Primer →
EXCLUSIVE: The Mysterious Case of RAZ from CHAZ – BLM Warlord Owns Multiple Guns (including an Uzi), a Tesla, BMW and Jaguar XJ, Millions in Properties, and Is Supported by Dubai Government
Joe Hoft June 16, 2020 Solomon Samuel Simone (aka RAZ from CHAZ or CHOP) is the proclaimed warlord of CHAZ, the multi-block area located in Seattle. Raz hates America but owns multiple guns, luxury automobiles, millions in real estate. Advertisement – story continues below More importantly, Raz is supported by the Islamic government in Dubai. … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: The Mysterious Case of RAZ from CHAZ – BLM Warlord Owns Multiple Guns (including an Uzi), a Tesla, BMW and Jaguar XJ, Millions in Properties, and Is Supported by Dubai Government →
DISGUSTING: Gun Running Warlord Raz from CHAZ – Played the Lead Role in Production of a White Girl Getting Gang Raped by Black Men
Joe Hoft June 17, 2020 The Black Lives Matter Warlord Gun-Running Leader of CHAZ, is connected to Dubai government and he owns three luxury automobiles and millions in property . “RAZ” also performed the lead role in his production about a young white girl being gang raped by gangsta’s. Sick! Advertisement – story continues below … Continue reading DISGUSTING: Gun Running Warlord Raz from CHAZ – Played the Lead Role in Production of a White Girl Getting Gang Raped by Black Men →
ANTIFA Is Not ‘Fighting For Freedom’, They Are A Highly-Funded, Organized Militia Force Created To Bring In Communist Revolution To America
On Saturday, Antifa will join other leftist groups in massive nationwide protests designed to force President Donald Trump’s administration out of office. Organizing those protests is “Refuse Fascism,” which declares that “in the name of humanity, we REFUSE to accept a Fascist America!” Despite antiseptic portrayals throughout American media, Antifa are more than “anti-fascists.” Antifa represent the … Continue reading ANTIFA Is Not ‘Fighting For Freedom’, They Are A Highly-Funded, Organized Militia Force Created To Bring In Communist Revolution To America →
I’m Not Watching the Minnesota Movie – American Thinker
More than 15,000 Americans were murdered in 2019, but no movies for national release were made about blacks killing blacks, the most common scenario. Nor were any made about blacks killing whites, Hispanics, or Asians. In fact, these movies are generally suppressed. June 1, 2020 By Jack Cashill I have not watched any of the … Continue reading I’m Not Watching the Minnesota Movie – American Thinker →
Abolishing the Police – A Terrorist’s Dream Come True :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism
Patrick Dunleavy IPT News June 17, 202 What began as a sincere cry for justice in the tragic killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has evolved into a critical examination of policing in the United States. Some are calling for drastic changes in the way police departments operate in society. And … Continue reading Abolishing the Police – A Terrorist’s Dream Come True :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism →
OPTrust Select Enrolls 1000 New Members
OPTrust just announced it has enrolled 1000 new members in OPTrust Select: OPTrust Select has welcomed *38 organizations and over 1,000 members *have joined the defined benefit pension offering from OPTrust since enrollment began in early 2019. OPTrust Select is designed specifically for organizations in the nonprofit, charitable and broader public sectors in Ontario and brings the advantages of OPTrust’s large scale and investment expertise to organizations that did not previously offer a defined benefit pension. The people who have joined OPTrust Select provide a range of critica... more »
"33 Things I Stole From People Smarter Than Me on the Way to 33"
*"33 Things I Stole From People Smarter * *Than Me on the Way to 33"* by Ryan Holiday "Last year was the first year I really forgot how old I was. This year was the year that I started doing stuff over again. Not out of nostalgia, or premature memory loss, but out of the sense that enough time had elapsed that it was time to revisit some things. I re-read books that I hadn’t touched in ten or fifteen years. I went back to places I hadn’t been since I was a kid. I re-visited some painful memories that I had walled off and chosen not to think about. So I thought this year, for my bir... more »
Climate change is a multi-trillion-dollar fraud
“Man can do NOTHING about climate.” – Dr Roger Higgs __________________ Climate change is a multi-trillion-dollar fraud Dr Roger Higgs Climate has ALWAYS changed; ask any geologist. Climate is controlled by three factors: Earth’s orbital characteristics (Milankovitch); the Sun’s variations (Svensmark); and to a minor short-term degree by super-volcanic eruptions. Man can do NOTHING about ... Read more Climate change is a multi-trillion-dollar fraud The post Climate change is a multi-trillion-dollar fraud appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Conservationists scurry to find why Muskrat numbers are dropping
Found throughout most of Canada and the United States, the muskrat is an animal, often resembling but not related to the beaver, that can be found swimming or scurrying along many marshes, lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. The post Conservationists scurry to find why Muskrat numbers are dropping appeared first on CFACT.
Covid and hurricane points to ponder
To assert that things are worse today, they deny yesterday. The post Covid and hurricane points to ponder appeared first on CFACT.
A poisoned chalice
“*I usually love reading articles by Melanie Phillips*” is what hundreds of people say before posting a derogatory comment in The Times - apart from the ones who start off with the opposite qualifier and proceed to wholeheartedly agree ‘just this once’ with what she’s written. Well, this article about the Skripal docudrama sparked off a mixed avalanche of both pro and anti comments. For once I’m leaning slightly towards the former, having watched the concluding instalment last night. Melanie’s positive ejaculation was somewhat premature if you can stomach the allusion, as I like to... more »
Solidarity And The Absent State In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican artists, entertainers, and athletes have been conspicuous in calling for protests against the government, which the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP) firmly controls. Indeed, January 2020 was uncannily similar to last July, when El Residente, Bad Bunny, Ilde, Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martin, and other artists roused scores of thousands of their fans to rise in opposition to Governor Ricardo Rosselló. Seven months later, as the government failed to take any decisive action toward a relief effort, anger was building against Rosselló’s hapless successor. Even more dama... more »
How An Internet ‘Persona’ Helped Birth Russiagate
Four years ago today, on June 15, 2016, a shadowy Internet persona calling itself “Guccifer 2.0” appeared out of nowhere to claim credit for hacking emails from the Democratic National Committee on behalf of WikiLeaks and implicate Russia by dropping “telltale” but synthetically produced Russian “breadcrumbs” in his metadata. Thanks largely to the corporate media, the highly damaging story actually found in those DNC emails — namely, that the DNC had stacked the cards against Bernie Sanders in the party’s 2016 primary— was successfully obscured. The media was the message; and the... more »
Will Moscow Save The West Bank From Annexation?
Palestinian efforts against Israel's plans to annex Palestinian territory are being exercised on three levels. Locally, Palestinians have severed all relations, including security coordination, with Israel and the United States. Regionally, Jordan has been spearheading the Arab response to the Israeli plan, including efforts by the only two Arab countries that have a peace plan with Israel: Jordan and Egypt. On the international level, Palestinian energy has been largely focused on three members of the Middle East Quartet — the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia. The f... more »
Neoliberalism Is In Critical Condition
Now is the moment to transition away from an economic system that thrives on exploitation. The Covid-19 pandemic is tearing the neoliberal playbook apart as politicians and citizens realise that, in times of pandemic, markets won’t save the day. The privatisation-deregulation-austerity recipe is becoming obsolete, leaving ways for a diversity of interventionist policies. Meanwhile, outside of markets, solidarity initiatives are blooming, creating the experiential and affective base for a paradigm shift away from self-interested individualism. This is an opportunity for a long-awa... more »
Life And Times At The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
Over the past few weeks we have witnessed one of the largest uprisings in recent US history. The police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, brought millions of people in the US and around the world out into the streets in aggressive demonstrations. In cities across the country, police precincts were set on fire, corporate stores looted, and as the police turned their sights on the protests, the numbers only grew. In Seattle, Washington, confrontations with protesters in a gentrified part of the city known as Capitol Hill led to law enforcement’s retreat from their o... more »
Racism, Lack Of Jobs As Workers Face Social Pandemic
The capitalist class in the United States now wants to force unemployed workers to take a job, any job, no matter how dangerous or low paid. This attack on workers’ incomes drags down the economy because workers won’t earn enough to buy the goods and services they would normally consume. For those workers who should qualify for unemployment insurance (UI), the requirements vary. Income levels and time worked are usually prominent reasons given for not providing UI. Undocumented workers are almost always excluded. Even documented foreign nationals often have problems. It can take w... more »
FBI Misled Congress: Black Activists Still Under Investigation
As Black activists around the country lead protests for racial justice, following the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people, MediaJustice and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) today reveal that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is still surveilling Black activists using a dated designation they testified to Congress was no longer in use. Of one million pages of documents, responsive to a FOIA request filed by MediaJustice and the ACLU, up to one-third of the pages are on open investigations of Black people as “domestic terrorist” thr... more »
Activists Paint ‘Defund Police’ In Front Of Baltimore City Hall
Jaisal Noor: On June 12th, activists painted ‘defund police’ in front of Baltimore City Hall, head of a committee hearing on the Baltimore Police Departments proposed a $509 million budget. Speaker 1: The City Council is voting on a $509 million investment into police at the expense of resources that are necessary to communities. And so we want the Baltimore City Police Department to cut the police budget by $270 million and take that money and invest it in community-based solutions. Speaker 3: The process to abolition is actually a process that’s not going to happen overnight. I ... more »
How To Effectively and Safely Topple A Statue Using Science
From Bristol, England to Birmingham, Alabama, people all over the world have been grappling with the legacy of racism by tossing their grappling hooks around the heads of problematic monuments. Should you happen to find yourself near a statue that you decide you no longer like, we asked scientists for the best, safest ways to bring it to the ground without anyone getting hurt—except, of course, for the inanimate racist who’s been dead for a century anyway. The force required to pull down a statue isn’t as great as you think, says mechanical engineer Scott Holland. Most statues are... more »
German Party Calls For Sanctions On Israel
Germany’s left-wing party Die Linke is calling for sanctions on Israel if it proceeds with its planned annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank. In Germany there is a strictly enforced – but intellectually lazy and morally repugnant – elite consensus that unconditional support for Israel and inaction in the face of its crimes against Palestinians are necessary to atone for the murder of millions of European Jews in German government death camps. Few prominent German politicians have the courage or moral clarity to understand that genuine and principled atonement would ... more »
A Summary On China's Border Disputes
China's current border disputes *Business Insider:* *China’s aggression isn’t only aimed at India — but at least four other countries in the region* * China’s hostile activities over the last month haven’t not only been against India. * Countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan have also had to bear the brunt of its aggression. * Experts speculate that this could be to distract from the second wave coronavirus in the country or a tactic for China to bide for more time to take on the US. The India-China faceoff in the Galwan valley has triggered panic across the globe. Th... more »
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