Thursday, July 01, 2021

1 July - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

 10 pm MDT

Pressure builds on Labour after free social care ‘betrayal’
Labour has been accused of betraying disabled people after a senior shadow minister told a meeting that calling for free social care would just “give the Tories a stick to beat Labour with”. There has been widespread anger among disabled people this […] read more
Disabled woman asks high court to declare DWP’s ‘immoral’ deductions scheme unlawful
A disabled woman left in “great distress” by an “immoral” Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme – which allows it to take money from her benefits to pay off utility debts – is asking the high court to declare the practice […] read more
Campaigner set for legal action over ‘fundamentally broken’ rail assistance app
A disabled campaigner has taken the first steps towards launching legal action over the rail industry’s use of a long-delayed and “fundamentally broken” passenger assistance mobile phone app. The industry hoped its Passenger Assist app would make it easier for disabled passengers […] read more
Fire! China Wants Its H-6K Bomber To Kill Targets 2,000 Miles Away
*Michael Peck* *Bombers, Asia* The warplane will be armed with hypersonic weapons, according to Chinese media. *Here's What You Need to Know*: For now, China is content to project power into its nautical backyard and over adjacent areas. China’s H-6K may be an old Soviet-designed bomber—but it’s getting twenty-first century missiles. Chinese H-6Ks—a knockoff of the 1950s Soviet Tu-16 bomber—will be armed with hypersonic weapons, according to Chinese media. “The warplane could eventually be armed with hypersonic weapons that can destroy hostile military hubs 3,000 kilometers [1,... read more
“Dirty Dozen”: The IRS Lists the Biggest Scams to Watch Out For
*Stephen Silver* *IRS Fraud, * [image: Biden New Stimulus] Taxpayers are asked to be on the lookout for mailbox theft, as well as stimulus check scams. The Internal Revenue Service has begun releasing its annual list of the “Dirty Dozen” tax-related scams, for which taxpayers are warned to watch. The list will be released over the course of three days. "We continue to see scam artists use the pandemic to steal money and information from honest taxpayers in a time of crisis," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in the release. "We provide this list to alert taxpayers about common ... read more
NATO Nukes Wouldn't Stop a Russian Invasion of the Baltics
*Michael Peck* *Russia, Europe* NATO will need to muster sufficient conventional forces because tactical nuclear weapons are not a credible deterrent, a RAND study concludes. *Here's What You Need to Know*: While the breakup of the Warsaw Pact was a victory for NATO, it also makes dealing with today’s Russia more complicated. Even if NATO resorts to tactical nuclear weapons, it still can’t save the Baltic States from a Russian invasion. One reason? The Warsaw Pact—the Eastern European satellites of the Soviet empire—can’t be held hostage anymore. That’s the conclusion of a 2019... read more
Gamers, Get Ready: LG OLED TVs Are First In Line For New Upgrades
*Stephen Silver* *Consumer Electronics, * LG has positioned the move as “reaffirming its commitment to providing the best big-screen gaming experience.” LG Electronics USA announced Tuesday that it has become the first TV manufacturer to offer Dolby Vision HDR at 4K 120Hz, for gaming. LG has positioned the move as “reaffirming its commitment to providing the best big-screen gaming experience.” The change will arrive via firmware, called version 03.15.27, and will arrive first on LG’s C1 and G1 OLED TVs. Next, it will arrive on LG’s OLED Z1 series, QNED Mini LED QNED99 series, an... read more
Can China Help Create Strategic Stability on the Korean Peninsula?
*Timo Kivimäki* *Korean Security, * To create strategic stability, we must think of ways to deter aggression without incentivizing an arms race by threatening the legitimate security interests of our enemies. A long-term solution to calm down political tension and reduce the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula could be envisioned by employing the concept of strategic stability. Borrowing from Thomas Schelling and Robert Ayson such stability is defined here as a situation in which the incentives on both sides to initiate war or an arms race are outweighed by the disincentives. Th... read more
Receiving The Child Tax Credit? You Might End Up Owing the IRS
*Rachel Bucchino* *Child Tax Credit, * Before spending or stockpiling the enhanced credit, families should clarify whether they will have to pay the money back to the IRS next tax season. Millions of American families will start receiving the advance child tax credit payments on July 15. But before spending or stockpiling the enhanced credit, families should clarify whether they will have to pay the money back to the IRS next tax season. “There will be a reconciliation,” Trenda Hackett, CPA and technical tax editor of the tax and accounting business at Thomson Reuters, told CNBC... read more
Biden Raised the Child Tax Credit: How to Get That Stimulus Check
*Trevor Filseth* *Child Tax Credit, * All of this has been done with the idea of putting more money into American families’ hands as quickly as possible. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Although the Biden administration wants to extend the current tax credit until 2025, it is currently scheduled to expire in April 2022. This means that next year, your payments will return to $2,000 per child—but the income ceiling will also rise to $200,000 for single parents and $400,000 for couples, giving upper-income families more breathing room. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, ... read more
The U.S. Army Wants Lasers to 'Slice' Enemy Missiles
*Michael Peck* *Missile Defense, Americas* Pulsed lasers can instantly generate an immense powerful burst of energy. *Here's What You Need to Know*: Missile defense is moving into the future. The U.S. Army wants a deadlier laser weapon that won’t just burn a target, but rather will slice it up. Instead of low-power continuous-wave lasers that emit a steady stream of energy, the Army wants pulsed lasers that shoot intermittent but intense bursts that can quickly destroy a target. Pulsed lasers are already used commercially for precision cutting and etching. How big a difference w... read more
An AK-47 on Steroids: Meet North Korea's Type 88 Rifle
*Kyle Mizokami* *Rifles, Asia* The Type 88 rifle will probably see further improvements in the coming years. *Here's What You Need to Know*: The rate of issue for the Type 88 can only be guessed at. One of the largest armies in the world has adopted one of the most unusual variants of the AK-series of assault rifles. The North Korean People’s Army Type 88 rifle is similar to the Soviet-era AK-74 with one key difference: unusual helical magazines that carry up to five times as many rounds as conventional 30-round magazines. Over the past sixty years, the Korean People’s Army (KP... read more
Big Tech News: LG Display Nearly Doubles OLED TV Production
*Stephen Silver* *Consumer Electronics, * OLED is having a big year this year, with sales of the panels expected to break records. Now, a report says production is expected to be huge as well. OLED is having a big year this year, with sales of the panels expected to break records. Now, a report says production is expected to be huge as well. According to a report this week by research firm Omdia, as cited by OLED Info, LG Display is expected to produce 8.3 million OLED TVs in the year 2021, a jump of 86 percent from the 2020 total of 4.5 million units. Omdia had earlier predicted... read more
The Rio Times9 hours ago
Rio de Janeiro lost over 25,000 jobs in creative industries in 2020
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In recent months, several initiatives in the creative industries have been affected by the pandemic of the new coronavirus, mainly through the temporary - or even permanent - suspension of events and cultural spaces. In Rio, the decline in the sector in the first quarter of 2021 was 4% compared […] The post Rio de Janeiro lost over 25,000 jobs in creative industries in 2020 appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Alabama Removes Child from Michigan Family Found With Marijuana
ED Noor: Canada has its problems. But this would never happen here. Total insanity, over-reach and criminal on behalf of the officials of Alabama. There is no justification for such illegal actions by state considering the circumstances. None, whatsoever. By Matt Agorist July 1, 2021 In the United States, recreational use of cannabis is legalized in 19 states and the District of Columbia while another 13 states have decriminalized its use. In other states like Alabama, however, cops still viciously seek out those who would dare possess and ingest a plant that has never kille... read more
The Last Refuge10 hours ago
Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Reforms With 6-3 Ruling – Justice Alito: Preventing Voter Fraud is a “strong and entirely legitimate state interest”
A major win for voting integrity laws in the Supreme Court today will enhance the ability of all state legislatures, and further define the parameters and hurdles for lower court activists before they can rule against the rights of states to secure their elections. The 6-3 ruling (Bryer, Sotomayor, Kagan in dissent) stems from a […] The post Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Reforms With 6-3 Ruling – Justice Alito: Preventing Voter Fraud is a “strong and entirely legitimate state interest” appeared first on The Last Refuge. read more
Science 2.0 blogs10 hours ago
New York City Hates Nuclear Power And Natural Gas - Now They Have To Turn Off Their Air Conditioners
New York's Indian Point nuclear power plant was banned on April 30th of this year - because the ruling political party and the environmental lobbyists who guide decisions convinced themselves that solar was ready to fill the gap. Now the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has told residents they need to shut off their air conditioners during a heat wave, because they don't have enough electricity. At the state level, alleged serial sexual predator Governor Andrew Cuomo is deflecting from his scandals by appealing to his base with another ban on energy - making the state one on ... read more
The Rio Times10 hours ago
Vivo launches free course on art and Brazilian museums
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The project named "Vivo na Arte" will have seven modules, one for each partner institution. The idea is to teach about museums and their collections. The classes will be taught by the technical staff of each entity, curated by Mirtes Marins, Ph.D. in education. Registration opens this Thursday, through Vivo's […] The post Vivo launches free course on art and Brazilian museums appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
The Rio Times10 hours ago
AstraZeneca vaccine type veto may hamper the entry of Brazilians into Europe
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The decision of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) not to include Covishield, AstraZeneca's version of the vaccine manufactured in India, in a list of immunizers approved for its digital certificate for travelers, has caused doubts regarding the entry into the European Union of citizens from countries outside the block. Brazil's […] The post AstraZeneca vaccine type veto may hamper the entry of Brazilians into Europe appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Disabled activists persuade council to think again on ‘discriminatory’ Peterloo memorial
Disabled campaigners have persuaded a council to reconsider its decision that nothing can be done to ensure that a high-profile memorial to the victims of the Peterloo massacre is fully accessible. Manchester City Council caused outrage among disabled people two years ago […] read more
Buckingham Palace refuses to release figures on disabled staff
Buckingham Palace has refused to publish figures showing how many of its employees are disabled people, despite publishing similar figures for minority ethnic staff. The royal household’s annual report and accounts, published last week, show that 8.5 per cent of its 499 […] read more
Council ‘used pandemic as Trojan horse for city centre access changes’
Campaigners have accused a council of using the pandemic as a “Trojan horse” to make permanent changes to the city centre that are already having a “devastating” impact on disabled people’s ability to access services, after being introduced as temporary measures. York […] read more
Science Matters12 hours ago
Typical Arctic Ice Extents in June
Previous posts reported that Arctic Sea Ice has persisted this year despite a wavy Polar Vortex this spring, bringing cold down to mid-latitudes, and warming air into Arctic regions. Then in May and now again in June, the sea ice extent matched or exceeded the 14-year average several times during the month, tracking […] read more
null9 hours ago
New Poll: Americans Reject 'Critical Race Theory'
According to a new poll, most Americans do not want schools to teach their children that America is an inherently racist country. Also today, election lawsuit in New York City, US teachers' union to demand forced vaccination, and the first major mask study is not good news for maskers. Watch today's Liberty Report: read more
null9 hours ago
America Leader of the Free World? How to Forget US interference in Foreign Elections
[image: undefined] After only five months in office, President Joe Biden has already become notorious for his verbal gaffes and mis-spokes, so much so that an admittedly Republican-partisan physician has suggested that he be tested to determine his cognitive abilities. That said, however, there is one June 16th tweet that he is responsible for that is quite straightforward that outdoes everything else for sheer mendacity. It appeared shortly after the summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and was apparently intended to be rhetorical, at least insofar as Biden understa... read more
null9 hours ago
'Delta Variant' Scaremongering: Fauci's Last Stand?
The media has joined the "public health experts" in hyping the danger of the "Delta variant" of the coronavirus. Fauci warns that it is the most dangerous yet. Yet data from the UK strongly suggest that, like all viruses, it becomes weaker with each mutation. So who's telling the truth and who is pushing a narrative? Also today: Capitol Hill Police hold open door for 69 year "insurrectionist" on Jan 6th, but she is arrested yesterday for entering the building. And...what does New York City's botched mayoral election tell us about elections? Watch today's Liberty Report: read more
null9 hours ago
Dear 'Insurrectionists': Welcome to the Anti-State Movement
[image: undefined] American Greatness website's Julie Kelly is a hero of modern journalism. She embodies the spirit of Mencken and so many others who refused to bow to the career-advancing zeitgeist of worshipping the state. She has doggedly reported on the incredible -- beyond-Stalinist -- persecution of a rag-tag group of "insurrectionist" Trump supporters who found themselves in a trap sprung by the deep state and its storm-trooping FBI to set-up MAGA-ists as enemies of the state to justify a broader persecution of the very right-wing populism that propelled Trump into the Oval... read more
null9 hours ago
Biden Claims Bombing Syria And Iraq Is A 'Defensive' Move. What?
Over the weekend President Biden ordered US airstrikes on Syrian and Iraqi territory. The Administration claims that bombing countries 6,000 miles away who could not pose a threat to the US if they wanted was a "defensive" move. One problem: US troops are illegally occupying Syria and the bombing was unequivocally condemned by the Iraqi government. So..."defense"...or aggression? Also today, new polls and studies on Covid and US trust in the media. Don't miss today's Liberty Report: read more
null9 hours ago
Losing the Plot on COVID
[image: undefined] What happens when a population of introverts, hypochondriacs, and obsessive-compulsives is continuously bombarded with messages to seclude and disinfect themselves, for fear that COVID-19 prickle-balls lurk everywhere, waiting to attack? What happens is that emotionally damaged people start driving bad politics and bad policy. "Fifteen days to flatten the curve." That phrase is surely now banned by corporate media, for it reminds us how the supposedly acute health threat of March 2020 was repeatedly re-packaged to keep populations off-balance and out of business... read more
null9 hours ago
Biden's Lawless Bombing of Iraq and Syria Only Serves the Weapons Industry Funding Both Parties
[image: undefined] For the second time in the five months since he was inaugurated, President Joe Biden on Sunday ordered a US bombing raid on Syria, and for the first time, he also bombed Iraq. The rationale offered was the same as Biden's first air attack in February: the US, in the words of Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, “conducted defensive precision airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in the Iraq-Syria border region.” He added that “the United States acted pursuant to its right of self-defense.” Embedded in this formulaic Pentagon statement is so mu... read more
null9 hours ago
HMS Defender Versus The Russian Military: The Danger of Believing Your Own Propaganda
[image: undefined] Less than two weeks after NATO members reaffirmed allegiance to Article 5 – that an attack on one member was an attack on all members – the UK nearly put that pledge to the test. In a shockingly provocative move, the UK’s HMS Defender purposely sailed into Crimean territorial waters on its way to Georgia. Press reports suggest that there was a dispute between the UK defense and foreign ministries over whether to violate Russia’s claimed territorial waters with a heavily armed warship. According to reports, Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself jumped in to over-ru... read more
null9 hours ago
Report: United States Ranks Last In Media Trust
[image: undefined] For years, we have been discussing the decline of journalism values with the rise of open bias in the media. Now, a newly released report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford has found something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The United States ranked dead last in media trust among 49 countries with just 29% saying that they trusted the media. The most tragic aspect is that it does not matter. The media has embraced the advocacy journalism and anyone questioning that trend risks instant cancellation. The result is... read more
null9 hours ago
What is Behind Gen. Mark Milley's Righteous Race Sermon? Look to the New Domestic War on Terror.
[image: undefined] For two hundred forty years, American generals have not exactly been defined by adamant public advocacy for left-wing cultural dogma. Yet there appeared to be a great awakening at the Pentagon on Wednesday when Gen. Mark Milley, the highest-ranking military officer in the US as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified at a House hearing. The Chairman vehemently defended the teaching of critical race theory at West Point and, referencing the January 6 Capitol riot, said, “it is important that we train and we understand ... and I want to understand white rag... read more
null9 hours ago
The Deep State Defeat of Donald Trump
[image: undefined] “The Trump–Deep State clash is a showdown between a presidency that is far too powerful versus federal agencies that have become fiefdoms with immunity for almost any and all abuses,” I wrote in an FFF article a year ago. Since then, Donald Trump lost the 2020 election by fewer than 50,000 votes in a handful of swing states that determined the Electoral College result. There were numerous issues that could drive that relatively small number of votes. But machinations by the Deep State probably cost Trump far more votes than it took to seal his loss. “The Deep Sta... read more
null9 hours ago
Fauci and the Biden Admin are Purposely Deceiving us About the 'Delta Variant' Threat
[image: undefined] Prominent actors within the US government have been lying to the American people about COVID-19 for 18 months and counting, and their latest behavior shows that the individuals in charge of US Government Science have no intention of stopping the charade anytime soon. Over time, their lies have evolved to become so common and so reckless to the point that someone with even the most rudimentary understanding of viruses can instantly debunk the lies. The latest “Delta variant” paranoia peddling has put their incompetence, deliberate spreading of falsehoods, and perpe... read more
null9 hours ago
Biden 'Confesses' - There Was No Insurrection!
While not long ago President Biden claimed the unarmed crowd that entered the US Capitol building was the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War, yesterday he told gun owners they'd need F-15s and nuclear weapons if they wanted to overthrow the government. So...what gives? Also today: CDC says Covid deaths now "preventable" and cases of post-vaccine heart inflammation skyrocket. Watch today's Liberty Report: read more
null9 hours ago
‘F-15s and Nuclear Weapons’: Biden Brushes off Point of 2nd Amendment & Undermines ‘Insurrection’ Narrative in Gun Control Push
[image: undefined] President Joe Biden’s new gun control crusade challenged the US founding fathers as well as the Democrats’ own January 6 “insurrection” narrative, by arguing armed citizenry would have no hope against an oppressive government. “Those who say the blood of patriots y'know and all the stuff about how we're going to have to move against the government. Well the tree of liberty is not watered with the blood of patriots,” Biden said on Wednesday, announcing new gun control actions from the White House. “What's happened is, that there never been, if you wanted, you thin... read more
null9 hours ago
Who Is A 'Terrorist' In Biden’s America?
[image: undefined] In the latest sign that the US government’s War on Domestic Terror is growing in scope and scale, the White House on Tuesday revealed the nation’s first ever government-wide strategy for confronting domestic terrorism. While cloaked in language about stemming racially motivated violence, the strategy places those deemed “anti-government” or “anti-authority” on a par with racist extremists and charts out policies that could easily be abused to silence or even criminalize online criticism of the government. Even more disturbing is the call to essentially fuse intel... read more
null9 hours ago
Freedom Of Press? US Govt. Seizes Dozens Of Foreign News Websites
Apparently the "rules-based order" that the Biden Administration touts does not apply to the United States, as the Justice Department announced yesterday it was seizing the websites of dozens of foreign news outlets, including the Iranian government-funded PressTV. Is taking down foreign news sites a good look for the US? This and more on today's Liberty Report: read more
null9 hours ago
Libertarians and the Drug War
[image: undefined] With June 2021 being the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s “war on drugs,” an ever-increasing number of editorials and op-eds are calling for an end to the drug war. This is an extremely positive sign, not only because it brings America closer to ending this evil, immoral, and destructive government program, but also because it shows the power of ideas on liberty. The intellectual climate was entirely different back in 1989, when I started The Future of Freedom Foundation. Back then, it was mostly only libertarians who were calling for an end to the d... read more
null9 hours ago
So Much Of What The CIA Used To Do Covertly It Now Does Overtly
[image: undefined] In the later years of an abusive relationship I was in, my abuser had become so confident in how mentally caged he had me that he’d start overtly telling me what he is and what he was doing. He flat-out told me he was a sociopath and a manipulator, trusting that I was so submitted to his will by that point that I’d gaslight myself into reframing those statements in a sympathetic light. Toward the end one time he told me “I am going to rape you,” and then he did, and then he talked about it to some friends trusting that I’d run perception management on it for him. ... read more
null9 hours ago
It's About Time! Congress Votes To Repeal Iraq War Authorization
Last week the US House voted to repeal the 2002 authorization to attack Iraq. After nineteen years and perhaps a million dead Iraqis, nothing was achieved by the war but death and destruction. Has Washington learned its lesson? Also today, WHO says no jab for kids! And Fauci's corrupt partner is shown the door. Watch today's Liberty Report: read more
Schools Matter10 hours ago
CRT: Who Needs a Theory When the Historical Facts Say It All, Part 1
- * 1607: Jamestown, the first British North American settlement, was founded in Virginia. * - *1619: The first African Americans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia.* - *1640: Virginia courts sentenced a black run away servant, John Punch, to "serve his said master . . . for the time of his natural Life." * One of the major tenets of critical race theory (CRT) acknowledges . . . that racism is a normal feature of society and is embedded within systems and institutions, like the legal system, that replicate racial inequality. This dismisses the idea that racist... read more
CO2 emissions, "cases", ... fanatical leftists love to worship meaningless quantities as measures of well-being
...because they hate decisions by the free people. Money is the only meaningful quantity that encodes the human well-being which is why the leftists love to (overtly) hate money Despite the persistent denial of this fundamental fact by the anti-science whackodoodles, everything in our Universe operates according to the laws that require mathematics to be accurately enough described. The distance between the Earth and the Sun is a time-dependent variable, a quantity that carries the units of meters (or other units of length), the temperature of an object may be expressed in kelvins, ... read more
null9 hours ago
The War On Afghanistan Is Lost But The US Still Tries To Keep A Foot In Its Door
[image: undefined] The Afghan government forces the US had trained are quickly losing the fight against the Taliban. The US has promised a complete retreat from Afghanistan. But it has now a plan to keep a foot in the door by staying in control of Kabul's international airport. That plan is likely to fail. When the Soviet troops left Afghanistan the government forces they had supported held out for three more years. Then the Soviets cut off all while the US continued to support the various Pashtun warlords and Mujahedin. Without Soviet resupply the government forces had to give up. ... read more
naked capitalism10 hours ago
2:00PM Water Cooler 7/1/2021
By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Busy little creature! * * * * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if […] read more
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: June 23 - 29, 2021
New activity/unrest was reported for 3 volcanoes from June 23 to 29, 2021. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 11 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica | Sarychev Peak, Matua Island (Russia) | Suwanosejima, Ryukyu...... Read more » read more
Snopes.com10 hours ago
Was Bruce Lee an American Citizen?
Quentin Tarantino’s comments about the martial arts legend and “American stuntmen” raised controversy online. read more
Snopes.com10 hours ago
Pelosi Names GOP’s Cheney to Panel Investigating Jan. 6 Riot
Pelosi named Republican Rep. Liz Cheney to a new select committee on the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, elevating the most unyielding GOP critic of former President Donald Trump to work alongside seven Democrats on the high-profile investigation. read more
Why We Probably Will Never Know Whether COVID Came From Wuhan Lab
Here’s the problem: Chinese scientists are great scientists, but they work for an authoritarian government where politics, not facts, always comes first. The post Why We Probably Will Never Know Whether COVID Came From Wuhan Lab appeared first on Children's Health Defense. read more
France Needs More Civil Liberties and Less Hypo-Securitization of Religion
NEW DELHI, India, Jul 01 (IPS) - In 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for tougher laws to tackle what he called, “Islamist Separatism”, and a crackdown on “radical Islamists” in France, which he said were materializing through repeated deviations from the Republic’s values. To counter this, President Macron announced his plans to create a “French Islam”, a practise of the faith which would be regulated by the state. Read the full story, “France Needs More Civil Liberties and Less Hypo-Securitization of Religion”, on globalissues.org → read more
Stopping Marine Plastic Pollution: A Key IUCN Congress Goal
St David’s, Wales, Jul 01 (IPS) - Documented images of albatross chicks and marine turtles dying slow deaths from eating plastic bags and other waste are being seared into our consciences. And yet our mass pollution of Earth’s seas and oceans, fuelled by single-use plastics and throw-away consumerism, just gets worse. Read the full story, “Stopping Marine Plastic Pollution: A Key IUCN Congress Goal”, on globalissues.org → read more
Internet shutdowns now ‘entrenched’ in certain regions, rights council hears
The practice of shutting down internet and mobile phone access to stifle dissent has become “entrenched” and more sophisticated in a growing number of countries as governments seek to retain power, a top UN-appointed independent rights expert said on Thursday. Read the full story, “Internet shutdowns now ‘entrenched’ in certain regions, rights council hears”, on globalissues.org → read more
The South China Sea Reveals China’s Grand Strategy
*Akshobh Giridharadas* *South China Sea, Asia* To understand China’s grand strategy, particularly Xi’s long-term game, one needs to understand Beijing’s belligerence in the South China Sea. Fire and water are juxtaposed in the phraseology of elements, but Robert Kaplan’s book *Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific* alludes to how a large water body is now a simmering cauldron. If modern-day geopolitical advantages are said to be shaped by three things, trade, natural resources, and supply chains, then all those three aspects are epitomized by who co... read more
Is North Korea At Its Breaking Point? Not Yet.
*Laura Rockwood, Jaewoo Shin, Matthew Frank* *Korean Security, * While challenges clearly remain, little at present suggests that the current North Korean regime, with its leadership constellation of personalism and party-centrism, is experiencing instability, let alone is at a breaking point. In evaluating the stability of the North Korean political system, analysts are presented with an unfortunate dilemma. While the omnipresent risk of war and the country’s nuclear arsenal underscore the paramount importance of the question, the opacity of that system makes it exceedingly diff... read more
After $390 Billion in Stimulus Checks, America May Not Need More?
*Rachel Bucchino* *Stimulus, * Biden’s rescue bill sent eligible Americans a third round of payments of up to $1,400, following two rounds that passed under former President Donald Trump for $1,200 and $600. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Republicans have balked at supporting another relief bill that pumps federal aid into the pockets of Americans, contending that the stimulus money deterred people from returning back to work, citing the widespread labor shortages. Roughly 163.5 million stimulus payments, worth nearly $390 billion, from President Joe Biden’s coronavirus rel... read more
$50,000 in Student Loan Relief? Democrats Want Biden to Get It Done
*Rachel Bucchino* *Student Loan Debt, * “With the flick of a pen, President Biden could get it done and I promise that I’ll keep pushing the Biden administration to do it,” Chuck Schumer said. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Roughly 43 million Americans owe a collective $1.59 trillion in federal student loan debt, and if Schumer’s proposal ever passed, that would wipe out all existing student debt for nearly 83.7 percent of them, according to an analysis by the Department of Education. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) renewed calls Monday for President Joe Biden ... read more
IRS Is Worried: Stimulus Checks Created a Scammer’s Paradise
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Stimulus Check, * Take note that this year’s “Dirty Dozen” was separated into four distinct categories: pandemic-related scams like Economic Impact Payment theft, personal information cons including phishing, scams focusing on unsuspecting victims like fake charities and senior/immigrant fraud, and schemes that persuade taxpayers into unscrupulous actions. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Many taxpayers lost their jobs and received unemployment benefits from their respective states because of the ongoing pandemic. The IRS contended that this has created the... read more
Is Assassin John Wick Actually a Marine? These Clues Have the Answer
*Alex Hollings* *Movies, * Wick’s veteran-status remains a point of some debate, but there is indeed some evidence to suggest that he spent some time in Uncle Sam’s favorite gun club. The *John Wick *series of movies did more than reinvigorate the career of the internet’s boyfriend, Keanu Reeves. It also gave the action genre a much-needed kick in the pants, proving once again that an action-packed thrill ride doesn’t need the cliche’d blue sky beam and giant CGI monsters that litter nearly every other summer blockbuster. *John Wick *successfully demonstrated (three times now) t... read more
Halifax Examiner10 hours ago
4 new cases of COVID-19 and 1 “probable” case announced in Nova Scotia on Thursday, July 1
The Halifax Examiner is providing all COVID-19 coverage for free. Please help us continue this coverage by subscribing. Jump to sections in this article: Overview Vaccination Demographics Testing Potential exposure advisories Nova Scotia announced four new cases of COVID-19 today (Wednesday, June 30).’ Three of the new cases are in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone […] read more
MUSINGS ON IRAQ11 hours ago
Security In Iraq, Jun 22-28, 2021
Violence slightly dipped in Iraq during the fourth week of June. Both the Islamic State and pro-Iran groups reduced their attacks. There were a total of 19 security incidents recorded in Iraq from June 22-28. Two were by pro-Iran factions and 19 by the Islamic State. There was a drone incidentin Irbil and a logistics convoy working for the U.S. was hit by an IED in Salahaddin. That brought the total number of attacks by groups aligned with Iran to 17 in June with three other incidents where IEDs and rockets were dismantled. The 19 incidents by IS were across Baghdad (... read more
MUSINGS ON IRAQ11 hours ago
This Day In Iraqi History - Jul 1
1920 British army facing revolt in Rumaitha told no reinforcements coming because railways destroyed Railway fixed and reinforcements arrived later that day (Musings On Iraq review of *Reclaiming Iraq, The 1920 Revolution and the Founding of the Modern State*) (Musings On Iraq review *Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921*) 1920 Gertrude Bell wrote Cmdr in Iraq Gen Haldane that support for Iraqi independence had fallen Off She didn’t know 1920 Revolt had started 1940 UK Cabinet decided to send division from India to Basra to pressure PM Gaylani who refused ... read more
Vandana Shiva: Bill Gates Plan to Push Big Tech as Way to Save the World Is ‘Rubbish’
In an interview with Russell Brand, Vandana Shiva, a brilliant mind calling for inhabitants of the Earth to unite against forces threatening to destroy the planet, calls Bill Gates’ book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” which pushes for the elimination of age-old farming traditions and widespread adoption of fake meat, “rubbish.” The post Vandana Shiva: Bill Gates Plan to Push Big Tech as Way to Save the World Is ‘Rubbish’ appeared first on Children's Health Defense. read more
What Countries Have The Strongest Militaries In The Middle East?
*Michael Peck* *Security, Middle East* And why does Iran rank ahead of Israel according to one metric? *Here's What You Need to Remember: *As anyone who peruses defense websites soon learns, rankings of military power are often so arbitrary that they become useless at best and ridiculous at worst. But more important is the arbitrary nature of these indexes, which tend to ignore the conditions that govern military power. Iran’s armed forces ranked thirteenth in the world, according to GlobalFirepower.com’s 2018 rankings, which apparently combined various statistics to assemble a ... read more
The New Dark Age10 hours ago
UK: Sowing division through dog-whistle politics
1 July 2021 — Institute of Race Relations As we go to press, polls are open in Batley and Spen, where the scars left by the far-right murder of Jo Cox in the days leading up to the Brexit vote are far from healing. In a special section of our regular calendar on racism and … Continue reading UK: Sowing division through dog-whistle politics read more
"Think of the Wavering Millions"
*"Think of the Wavering Millions"* by Bill Bonner "Raise your glass to the hard-working people, Let’s drink to the uncounted heads. Let’s think of the wavering millions Who need leading, but get gamblers instead. Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter, Empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows. And a parade of the gray-suited grafters A choice of cancer or polio." – "Salt of the Earth" by The Rolling Stones YOUGHAL, IRELAND – "Today, we raise a glass to the hard-working people… robbed by the gamblers and conned by the gray-suited grifters…Yes, we drink to the uncounted heads… the pe... read more
Food & Water Watch11 hours ago
Cuomo Administration Announces Public Comment Periods for Controversial Gas Plants
Advocates welcome opportunity to mobilize grassroots opposition to climate-destructive fossil fuel projects proposed in the Hudson Valley and Queens read more
The Duran11 hours ago
Russia Threatens to Bomb NATO Warships as NATO Exercises in Black Sea
Russia Threatens to Bomb NATO Warships as NATO Exercises in Black Sea News Topic 207 The NATO-Ukraine Sea Breeze exercise could ultimately help create the circumstances for real conflict with Russia in the Black Sea — RT Op-ed The NATO-Ukraine Sea Breeze exercise could ultimately help create the circumstances for real conflict with Russia in […] read more
The Aviationist11 hours ago
Belgian F-16 Damaged in Ground Incident At Leeuwarden AB. Pilot Successfully Ejected.
[image: Belgian F-16 incident] A Belgian Air Force F-16 hit a building shortly after start-up. On Jul. 1, 2021, a BAF (Belgian Air Force) F-16 was involved in an incident at Leeuwarden Air Base, in the Netherlands. According to [...] The post Belgian F-16 Damaged in Ground Incident At Leeuwarden AB. Pilot Successfully Ejected. appeared first on The Aviationist. read more
Second tornado in just 8 days hits Belgium
A second tornado in just 8 days hit Belgium on June 27, 2021, this time in the province of Luxembourg. The tornado hit the hamlet of Bernistrap in Houffalize where a square farmhouse-castle collapsed amid strong winds. While there were no injuries, its inhabitants...... Read more » read more
Snopes.com11 hours ago
Comedian Christina P. Reveals Injury Details on Podcast
The stand-up comedian spoke over Zoom with her husband and co-host, Tom Segura, about the fact that both of them had recently been injured. read more
Snopes.com11 hours ago
Mike Tyson’s Anti-Vaccine Shirt Photo Is Fake
We believe in genuine photographs, not doctored anti-vaccine propaganda. read more
White Wolf11 hours ago
Beautiful Historical Photos Show The Original People Of Western Canada
Studio photographer Harry Pollard spent time documenting the beauty and resilience of members of several tribes. His breathtaking collection included the Tsuu T’ina, Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani tribes, captured in traditional dress. Interestingly, the historic images, which can be found on the Provincial Archives of Alberta, include the individuals' names and tell a story in themselves. Many of the titles are themed around nature, like Lone Walking Buffalo and Running Antelope. Others focus on their status within the tribe, like an individual Pollard met called Spring Chief. Pol... read more
Defund the police
Amazing how the Democrats in Congress with their carbon copy media are now trying to say defund police is a Republican idea. I guess NYC will have to paint over those defund police signs in the street? Will all the videos of AOC and the squad and their co-conspirators disappear? Or maybe the ignorant voters could look at the federal budget and see Washington DC doesn't fund the local police. From USAFacts: *"State and local governments spent $193 billion on law enforcement and corrections in 2017. Local governments were responsible for $129 billion, or two-thirds of that spending. ... read more
About virtue signaling yard signs
A gentle reminder. Lakeside is a respite, or could be, from the aches and ills of the pandemic and 24/7 politics. Our Association rules are quite clear about signs and advertising, rule 1.9, p. 115 of the current LOPA Directory. Not only are political belief signs not permitted except before an election (i.e. not during the season), but they are off-putting to neighbors, guests, and renters no matter how clever by half. This poem might be a good yard sign. . . on your own property. If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the achin... read more
Komando.com12 hours ago
How to limit ad tracking on Android
Simple ways to avoid ad tracking on your Android device. read more
The definition of food insecurity. It isn't hunger.
USAFacts is doing a feature on "food insecurity." That term was invented because there is not enough actual hunger in the U.S. to measure by population and put in a graph. However, I read far enough to get to the "food desert" definition. Notice: "easy and ample access." "What is a food desert? The Department of Agriculture defines them as an area where low-income people do not have easy and ample access to food retailers. This limits people’s access to affordable, nutritious food." Here's what happens. When a chain store with jobs and fresh fruits and vegetables plans to expand in... read more
Snopes.com12 hours ago
Ghost Kitchens — What Are They?
Ghost kitchens are food prep operations with no waiters, no dining room and no parking lot – really, no public presence whatsoever. read more
The so-called insurrection
Pelosi wants to investigate the January 6 incident where a woman was killed by either Capitol police or a private security guard. We've never found out. Because she wasn't black, Pelosi just lauded the police. But the truth is not what she's looking for. She wants to threaten and demean every Trump supporter, even if they were never involved. She doesn't want to look at the killings since the George Floyd death, and the billions of losses to businesses and black communities in Democrat controlled cities. Because to Pelosi, Black Lives Don't Matter. Only power, control and politics ma... read more
Snopes.com12 hours ago
Princes William, Harry Unveil Princess Diana’s Statue
Princes William and Harry unveiled a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday in a small — and brief — ceremony at London's Kensington Palace. read more
Snopes.com12 hours ago
The ‘Pzoom’ Invisible Car Trick, Explained
It has more to do with camera tricks than butt muscles. read more
Retraction Watch12 hours ago
“If the data were not [correct], whose fault is this?” Authors of highly criticized COVID-19 vaccine study defend it
Earlier this week, we reported that a paper claiming that two deaths resulted from COVID-19 vaccination for every three cases that were prevented had earned an expression of concern. The authors, including Harald Walach, who was also co-author of a just-published paper in JAMA Pediatrics questioning the safety of masks in children, had used data … Continue reading “If the data were not [correct], whose fault is this?” Authors of highly criticized COVID-19 vaccine study defend it read more
Judge Tosses Frivolous Lawsuit By Heiress Sulome Anderson Seeking To Destroy The Grayzone
Judge William M. Jackson’s June 16, 2021 decision put an end to the entitled heiress’ three-year-long campaign to smear and bankrupt The Grayzone with the help of a powerful DC lawyer closely linked to the Israel lobby. It was a humiliating resolution to a legal assault that threatened to impose a serious chilling effect on independent media and press freedom had it been successful. The post Judge Tosses Frivolous Lawsuit By Heiress Sulome Anderson Seeking To Destroy The Grayzone appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
CENSORED NEWS5 hours ago
Native Matriarch Locks Down at Enbridge Line 3 -- Protecting Water and Wetlands
Native Matriarch locked downWatch live coverage by Unicorn Riot on YouTubeThursday, July 1, 2021, 4:20 pmFourteen Water Protectors Remain Locked Downhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeHbMlHDec5NmJfiQXMYGXQScroll down for today's live video coverage by Unicorn Riot on YouTubeHubbard County Sheriff brings in tear gas launcher, arrests underway at noon hour. Live coverage by Unicorn Riot. Thursday, read more
The Rio Times11 hours ago
Survey shows Brazilians’ concerns about data security in a digital world
RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL - A survey commissioned by Mastercard and conducted by the Datafolha Institute found that while 92% of Brazilians are aware that the companies they interact with keep some form of information about their consumption and leisure habits, they fear for the security of their data in the digital environment. On a […] The post Survey shows Brazilians’ concerns about data security in a digital world appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
CDC Experts Disagree With Pfizer on COVID Boosters, Threatening Pharma Giant’s Billion Dollar Revenue Stream
The CDC’s advisory committee said there isn’t enough evidence to recommend booster shots as Pfizer reassures investors that boosters will be needed long after the pandemic ends in an effort to secure its multi-billion-dollar revenue stream. The post CDC Experts Disagree With Pfizer on COVID Boosters, Threatening Pharma Giant’s Billion Dollar Revenue Stream appeared first on Children's Health Defense. read more
The Rio Times12 hours ago
Natural gas production in Brazil up 17.7% and oil production down 1.4% in May compared to April
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Natural gas production in Brazil increased 17.7% in May, compared to April, totaling 135 million cubic meters per day (m3/d). Compared to May 2020, the growth was 2.4%, informed the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP). Oil production in the month totaled 2.932 million barrels per day […] The post Natural gas production in Brazil up 17.7% and oil production down 1.4% in May compared to April appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
War News Updates12 hours ago
Today Is Canada Day
*WNU Editor:* It is a national holiday in Canada today. Off to see some friends for lunch in Old Montreal. This will be the first time I am having a meal with friends at a restaurant since the start of the pandemic. Blogging will return later today. read more
Food & Water Watch12 hours ago
Iowa CCI and Food & Water Watch File Petition for Rehearing with Iowa Supreme Court
Plaintiffs in Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Food & Water Watch v. State of Iowa request rehearing to protect Iowans’ right to clean water read more
War News Updates12 hours ago
Belgian F-16 Has Crashed Into A Building At A Dutch Airbase
Pilot ejects from Belgian F-16 at Leeuwarden airbase in The Netherlands. Condition of the pilot currently unknown. https://t.co/hBeE11jHw9 pic.twitter.com/LQiPFLUfNl — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 1, 2021 *Daily Mail: **F16 jet crashes into a building after pilot loses control on runway and ejects during take-off in Holland* * Fighter jet lost control on take-off and smashed into nearby building * The pilot was forced to eject to avoid crashing - his condition is still unknown * One other person in the building was taken to hospital * The plane was taki... read more
War News Updates12 hours ago
Is The Office Of The U.S. Vice President Dysfunctinoal?
© REUTERS / EVELYN HOCKSTEIN *Daily Mail: **Kamala Harris's 'abusive' office: VP rocked by claims staffers are 'treated like sh**' and that chief of staff Tina Flournoy has created a 'blame culture' - despite Biden's threat to FIRE anyone treating colleagues poorly* * Sources described to Politico a tense atmosphere with low morale and trust, as well as bad communication in VP Kamala Harris's office * Some of the sources blamed Harris, saying the toxicity 'all starts at the top' * They accused Chief of Staff Tina Flournoy of creating an environment where 'ideas are ignored ... read more
Food & Water Watch12 hours ago
Another Water Rate Hike, Advocates Call for Relief
As the water crisis in Baltimore compounds, implementing the Water Accountability & Equity Act is increasingly urgent read more
Schools Matter12 hours ago
Rumsfeld In Hell
When I spotted Donald Rumsfeld at the Reagan Airport in DC some years ago, striding along with his leather valise, I could not help myself. "Aren't you Donald Rumsfeld?" I asked, just to be sure before I let loose. He pulled up short and, with head cocked toward me and smiling wryly, said, "Why, yes I am." The valise changed hands. "I thought so," I said. "I just wanted to let you know how many nights I have laid awake cursing your fucking name." His relaxed eyebrows crunched, and his grin puckered. "Well, that's your problem," he snarled, with the same nasal sarcasm that he u... read more
Food & Water Watch12 hours ago
House Invests in Water, More Support Needed
Debt relief and lead service line replacements are pivotal victories for water justice, but a permanent funding solution must be passed read more
Parents Thought This Cop Was Protecting Their Kids at School — He was Raping Them
[image: school]A child predator cop admitted to raping multiple children under his care at a Clearwater County, Michigan school, with abuse going back a decade. read more
Snopes.com13 hours ago
GOP Donor Pays $1M to Deploy South Dakota National Guard
Willis Johnson said he just wanted to help. read more
Lawfare13 hours ago
American Democracy, Coups and Retired Generals
Retired U.S. Army lieutenant general Michael Flynn at a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Gage Skidmore, https://flic.kr/p/MJQaAD; CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently seemed to call for a military coup in the United States, Myanmar-style. Disturbing, yes. A decorated former senior military officer (and short-lived national security adviser) publicly advocating for the end of American democracy is jarring, and makes one wonder if those currently in unifo... read more
Diverse13 hours ago
Institute of International Education Selects 40 Institutions to Receive Study Abroad Grant
The Institute of International Education (IIE) named Harris-Stowe State University, a historically Black university in Saint Louis, Missouri, as one of 40 recipients for a grant focused on increasing access to study abroad opportunities. As part of the IIE American Passport Project grant, 25 first-year students are selected from each institution to receive U.S. passports […] read more
Heavy-Handed Marketing of COVID Vaccines, Passports Brings George Orwell’s ‘Freedom Is Slavery’ to the Fore
Vaccine “passports” being put in place by the European Union and Australia as well as some U.S. states and businesses are one of the more alarming instruments advancing the “heart and soul of Technocracy and Scientific Dictatorship.” The post Heavy-Handed Marketing of COVID Vaccines, Passports Brings George Orwell’s ‘Freedom Is Slavery’ to the Fore appeared first on Children's Health Defense. read more
Snopes.com14 hours ago
‘Homing Pigeons That Can’t Find Their Home’ Block I-95 Exit
Because the birds roost at night, the pigeons stayed on the road until bright lights from vehicles startled them. read more
Small Dead Animals14 hours ago
Into The Unknown
RIP Donald Rumsfeld. From his days as a young aviator in the United States Navy, he spent the majority of his adult life serving that country. When Rumsfeld left government in 2006, he took all the weight of the Bush administration’s failure in Iraq onto his shoulders and bore it into exile. Though he offered… Continue reading → read more
The U.S. Navy's Triton Drone Is Getting Geared Up
*Kris Osborn* *Drones, * This may reflect upon a growing realization that, despite being larger and “less-stealthy” per se, a Triton drone can draw upon evolving technologies and specific attributes to massively enhance its operational impact and greatly strengthen its survivability should it be needed against a technologically advanced great power adversary. Despite the Navy’s current “procurement pause” regarding the MQ-4C Triton maritime warfare drone, the ongoing upgrades to the platform may point to service plans to configure the drone for major combat on the ocean, and p... read more
The Rio Times12 hours ago
Brazil formal job growth this year tops 1 million
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Job growth in Brazil accelerated sharply in May, official figures showed on Thursday, with formal jobs created almost double the consensus estimate to lift the total number of new positions opened this year above 1 million. That marks the strongest pace of job growth since 2010, both for the month […] The post Brazil formal job growth this year tops 1 million appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Unprecedented cold and record snow engulf parts of South America
A powerful Antarctic cold mass is bringing unprecedented cold, record snow, and frosts to parts of South America, such as Argentina and Brazil. In Brazil, one of the strongest polar air masses in the past years is starting to make temperatures drop in the Rio Grande...... Read more » read more
Organizing Notes12 hours ago
Atlantic stormwind in the Black Sea
The Art of War By Manlio Dinucci (il manifesto, Italy) The large aero-naval maneuver Sea Breeze, officially "co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine" in the Black Sea, began yesterday. The United States planned and commands it, US is, therefore, the host in this sea close to Russian territory. Sea Breeze is taking place from June 28 to July 10. The maneuver is led by the US/African Naval Forces with headquarters in Naples and includes the Sixth Fleet. It includes naval, submarine, amphibious, land, and air warfare exercises. Since this series of annual maneuvers in the Bla... read more
The Rio Times13 hours ago
Brazil exceeds 100 million doses of vaccine applied against Covid-19
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - According to official data from Vacinômetro - the Ministry of Health's data tool that tracks the pace of vaccination against covid-19 in Brazil - the country surpassed today (30) the mark of 100 million doses applied. According to the Vacinometer, the country registers 135,060,376 doses distributed to the states and […] The post Brazil exceeds 100 million doses of vaccine applied against Covid-19 appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
War News Updates13 hours ago
An Unprecedented Number Of War Games Are Happening In The Pacific This Year
In May, a U.S. Navy boatswain watches an F/A-18E Super Hornet launching from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt off Alaska as part of series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises. (U.S. Navy, Eduardo Torres) *Ann Wright, Consortium News:* *Crowding the Pacific & Pressuring China* *Ann Wright reports on the buildup of war practices in the region, including Russia’s training at the edge of U.S. territorial waters off Hawaii and massive U.S.-Australian maneuvers underway through August. * Each week the Pacific is getting even more crowded with military... read more
the daily howler13 hours ago
CRITICAL MATTERS: Goldberg's retreat!
*THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021* *The winding road back to the tribe: *We'll offer two cheers, or maybe just one, for Michelle Goldberg's latest column. If we were grading her column on the curve, her column would rate an A-plus. With respect to the current red-hot dispute about critical race theory and public schools, Goldberg did the sorts of things which *very* few opinion writers in Our Town have done. Good lord! Goldberg suggested that the infallible people who live in Our Town may not be completely infallible with respect to these critical matters! As we noted yesterday, she broke ... read more
The New Dark Age13 hours ago
Can the power of information be controlled?
“Knowledge is power”, or so the old adage goes. Perhaps what the proverb overlooks is that those who facilitate the spread of knowledge hold more power than anyone. In human rights terms, freedom of expression is the right to impart and to receive information; and while a greater emphasis is often placed on the abilities of speakers to express themselves, what makes censorship so potent is that it is, in effect, the ability of an actor to exercise power over others by preventing them from receiving information. read more
bilaterals.org13 hours ago
Taking the EU reins, Slovenia plans to press ahead on China investment deal
01-Jul-2021 Technical work will continue to ready the deal if it is enacted, even though the European Parliament froze its consideration after Beijing sanctioned several of its members, Slovenian ambassador says. read more
The New Dark Age13 hours ago
Cuba’s Vaccine Shield and the Five Monopolies that Structure the World: The Twenty-Sixth Newsletter (2021)
1July 2021 — Tricontinental Raúl Martínez (Cuba), Yo he visto (‘I Have Seen’), n.d. Dear friends, Greetings from the desk of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. In 1869, at the age of fifteen, José Martí and his young friends published a magazine in Cuba called La Patria Libre (‘The Free Homeland’), which adopted a strong position against Spanish imperialism. … Continue reading Cuba’s Vaccine Shield and the Five Monopolies that Structure the World: The Twenty-Sixth Newsletter (2021) read more
The Rio Times13 hours ago
Brazil’s Bolsonaro criticizes Supreme Court members for articulating rejection of printed ballot
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro criticized Thursday three Justices of the Supreme Court (STF) for articulating the overthrow of the proposal being considered by the House of Representatives that provides for the printing of voting receipt from electronic ballot boxes. "There is an articulation of three Justices of the Supreme Court […] The post Brazil’s Bolsonaro criticizes Supreme Court members for articulating rejection of printed ballot appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
The New Dark Age13 hours ago
The July issue of ColdType (Issue 224) is now online
1 July 2021 — ColdType Welcome to the July issue of ColdType (and Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian readers). This month’s cover story by John W. & Nisha Whitehead highlights the many chilling ways in which the US – and every other – government spies on the activities of its unsuspecting citizens. Other top stories include Michael Bradley’s … Continue reading The July issue of ColdType (Issue 224) is now online read more
The New Dark Age13 hours ago
Black Agenda Report 1 July 2021
1 July 2021 — Black Agenda Report Freedom Rider: The Terrible Origins of July 4th Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist The British crown and the colonists were both determined to seize lands from native peoples and to continue enslavement.” Twerkers of the World you might…(Or when they go low we get high?) Raymond Nat Turner, … Continue reading Black Agenda Report 1 July 2021 read more
The New Dark Age13 hours ago
CPC transforms China as a world class power
This is the season to reread Edgar Snow’s Red Star Over China, the classic work on the birth of the communist movement in China. Alongside John Reid’s Ten Days That Shook the World, the gripping eyewitness account of the Bolshevik Revolution, Snow’s book was compulsive reading in the first flush of revolutionary enthusiasm as college students. read more
The Duran13 hours ago
PressTV domain seized. ICANN weaponised. Is SWIFT next?
PressTV domain seized. ICANN weaponised. Is SWIFT next? The Duran: Episode 1022 Why the U.S. Government Took Down Dozens of Iranian Websites This Week Why the U.S. Government Took Down Dozens of Iranian Websites This Week This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & […] read more
The map is not the territory, and Twitter is not America
An interesting article at Outkick explores how Twitter fools many politicians, opinion formers and others about what America really thinks and feels. It's not just Twitter that's responsible - it's a function of the platform's users. In the last four years, Twitter has become America’s target audience, and subsequently, one of the most powerful groups in the country. Applicants are hired if their Twitter accounts are presentable. Employees are fired if their past tweets don’t age well. Politicians build laws with social media reactions in mind. Major media companies promote,... read more
Snopes.com14 hours ago
Trump Organization CFO Surrenders Ahead of Expected Charges
New York prosecutors are expected to announce the first criminal indictment in a two-year investigation into Trump's business practices, accusing his namesake company and CFO Allen Weisselberg of tax crimes related to fringe benefits for employees. read more
Canada Day 2021
This Canada Day is like no other I can remember. The graves of all those children -- recently and soon to be discovered -- make this a somber day. There is so much we didn't get right. Martin Luther King said that "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." There is so much to do. Image: The Guardian read more
musingsofanoldfart15 hours ago
Can’t find my way home
Eric Clapton rejoined forces with Steve Winwood to form one of the best short lived groups ever called Blind Faith. Both were very talented musicians who met within a group known as The Bluesbreakers, when Winwood was only sixteen. Here … Continue reading → read more
Caitlin Johnstone15 hours ago
The System Isn’t There To Protect Us From Criminals, It’s To Protect Criminals From Us
Listen to a reading of this article: Iraq war architect Donald Rumsfeld has died. Not in a prison cell in The Hague, not murdered by bombs or bullets, but peacefully in his home, surrounded by loved ones, a week and a half shy of his […] read more
bilaterals.org13 hours ago
Israel, UAE to start talks on free trade deal
01-Jul-2021 Both sides are looking forward to signing a free trade agreement, and they have commenced discussions on this matter, the ministers said in a joint statement. read more
bilaterals.org13 hours ago
Libre-échange: le scepticisme croît au sein du Mercosur
01-Jul-2021 L'accord commercial entre le Mercosur et les États-membres de l'AELE fait craindre un accroissement des asymétries couplé à un regain de néocolonialisme. read more
bilaterals.org13 hours ago
Concerns over RCEP
01-Jul-2021 The ongoing US-China tensions can be a potential wildcard to the mass ratification and adoption of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by its country member signatories. read more
bilaterals.org13 hours ago
Maroc-UK : Sous la pression d'une ONG Pro-Polisarienne, la Haute Cour de Londres autorise la révision de l'accord d'Association
01-Jul-2021 Saisi par une organisation Pro-Polisario, la Haute Cour de Londres a autorisé la révision de l'accord d'Association signé entre le Maroc et le Royaume Uni en 2019. read more
If the U.S. Navy Could Have Its Ideal Warship, What Would It Be?
*James Holmes* *U.S. Navy, * A dream team, not a dream ship, may be the answer to America’s anti-access woes. *Here's What You Need to Know*: If no fleet of ultimate warships can wrest command of the sea from anti-access opponents, then what *is* today’s equivalent of Mahan’s and Corbett’s battle fleet? What would a U.S. Navy dream surface combatant look like? As with any tool, the answer depends on the job you have in mind for it. Will it fight for command of the sea, project power inland once the seas and skies are cleared of foes, or harass adversary fleets into impotence? D... read more
The Secret to Beating China in War? Watch Star Trek.
*James Holmes* *China, East Asia* No, really. *Here's What You Need To Remember:* First and foremost, the U.S. Navy should acknowledge—should grok, as sci-fi master Robert Heinlein might say—that a manpower deficit represents a grave weakness in a hot war. Taking the problem seriously constitutes the first step toward a solution. How would you punk the U.S. Navy if the lords of naval warfare handed you the keys to, say, China’s navy? Well, you might do the obvious thing: read or watch some science fiction! In the latest *Star Trek* flick, for instance, a new foe harnesses swarm ... read more
Report: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Could Lessen U.S. Debt
*Rachel Bucchino* *Politics, Americas* During the first decade of the bill’s framework, debt would increase by 0.4 percent compared to the baseline while GDP stays the same as under the current-law baseline, citing that spending would outpace the increases in revenue for the first ten years. The bipartisan infrastructure deal that the Biden administration agreed to last week would decrease government debt and add billions of dollars to the economy, according to a new analysis released Wednesday. The report, conducted by the Penn Wharton Budget Model, estimated that during the ... read more
The Soviet Pilot Who Tried to Ram Francis Gary Powers
*Trevor Filseth* *Aviation History, * Ram the jet, they told him. This was a ludicrous order to give, and probably a suicidal one. In the early hours of May 1, 1960, the last U-2 flight over the Soviet Union entered the country’s airspace. Sitting in the pilot seat was Francis Gary Powers, a retired U.S. Air Force Captain then employed by the Central Intelligence Agency. By roughly 5:30 in the morning, Soviet air defenses had detected the plane’s intrusion into its airspace, and although they could not yet shoot the aircraft down, they were closely monitoring its position and li... read more
Uranium Bullets: The U.S. Army's Super Weapon?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Tanks, Americas* The service armed its M1 Abrams tank with the ultimate upgrade: a tank-killing round made of uranium, the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth. *Here's What You Need to Know*: The use of depleted uranium as a penetrator has resulted in superior armament for U.S. tankers crossing the battlefield. A tank is a fast-moving, well-protected, heavily armed behemoth designed to dominate the land battlefield. As the primary offensive weapon in any army, nations compete to field the best tanks in both peace and war. In the 1980s, the U.S. Army to... read more
The Child Tax Credit Is Two Weeks Out: How Will You Spend Your Stimulus Check?
*Trevor Filseth* *Child Tax Credit, * The parents’ spending choices illuminate one of the strongest arguments in favor of a larger Child Tax Credit: parents tend to spend their credit money in ways that cause the money to return quickly to the economy, stimulating it and creating more total added value. One of Biden’s most significant accomplishments from his first 100 days in office was the passage of the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. The $1.9 trillion legislation provided for, among other programs, the third round of stimulus payments, which sent out $1400 to all eligibl... read more
Bad News for Biden? Consumer Spending Holds Steady as Personal Income Falls
*Rachel Bucchino* *Consumer Spending, * The flat measure for consumer spending last month comes after increases in April and a five percent surge in March, which was largely due to the $1,400 stimulus payments from President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion rescue bill. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *“Overall consumers are still well positioned to attack the summer with a lot of enthusiasm,” Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, told *The Wall Street Journal*. “We have households that have a strong itch to spend, they have the means to do so, and they have fewer ... read more
Starting October 1, the Student Loan Repayment Scramble Begins Again
*Rachel Bucchino* *Student Loan Debt, * And, according to a new poll, the majority of federal student loan borrowers are not prepared to resume payments. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *The survey also found that there are major racial disparities relating to student loans, as Black, Latinx and Native borrowers “faced large economic obstacles during the pandemic and are least likely to say they are ready to resume payments on their federal student loans.” The majority of federal student loan borrowers are not prepared to resume payments starting October 1, according to a ne... read more
Japan Could Have Beaten American in World War II If It Did These 5 Things
*James Holmes* *World War II, Pacific* More than possible. *Here's What You Need To Remember:* The weak sometimes win. As strategic sage Carl von Clausewitz recounts, history furnishes numerous instances when the weak got their way. Let's face it. Imperial Japan stood next to no chance of winning a fight to the finish against the United States. Resolve and resources explain why. So long as Americans kept their dander up, demanding that their leaders press on to complete victory, Washington had a mandate to convert the republic's immense industrial potential into a virtually unst... read more
Infrastructure, But No Stimulus Checks: What’s in Biden’s Bipartisan Plan?
*Stephen Silver* *economy, * The proposed framework includes $125 billion for “roads, highways, bridges, ports and waterways.” plus an additional sum of nearly $100 billion for “clean-energy-related projects.” *Here's What You Need to Remember: *The package will be financed by stepped-up IRS enforcement, as well as what* The Washington Post *described as “a hodgepodge of measures.” In addition, $100 billion will be cut from unemployment benefits, with another $100 billion collected from “selling public infrastructure to private interests.” Last week, the White House reached an ... read more
The G7 Reality Check
In early June, the leaders of the world’s seven richest countries met in the UK to discuss global health, climate, and tax issues. Although the world is still in the midst of a pandemic, their actions leave little hope — or room — for changes for the better The post The G7 Reality Check appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
War News Updates13 hours ago
Taiwan And US Restart Trade Talks Despite China's Opposition
*Bloomberg*:* U.S., Taiwan to Talk Chips, Vaccines as Long-Stalled Talks Begin* (Bloomberg) -- Sign up to receive the Balance of Power newsletter in your inbox for the latest political news, analysis, charts, and dispatches from around the globe. The U.S. and Taiwan agreed to hold regular talks on issues ranging from technology supply chains to meat imports following their first Trade and Investment Framework Agreement meeting in five years. The two sides will establish working groups to discuss topics including labor rights and intellectual property, the Office of the U.S.... read more
War News Updates13 hours ago
US And Japan Conduct Joint Military Exercises And War Games With A China - Taiwan Conflict In Mind
US Marine Corps/Cpl. Drew Tech *Daily Express*: *US and Japan execute military exercises - fears of conflict with China over Taiwan surge* THE US and Japan have conducted joint military exercises and war games as possible preparation for conflict with China over Taiwan. Allied armed forces are conducting war training around the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, located 330 km (205 miles) from China and controlled by Japan. This revelation by The Financial Times comes a week after Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi announced that the security of Taiwan is tied directly to Japan.... read more
War News Updates13 hours ago
Senior Japanese Defense Official Warns U.S. Of Potential Surprise Attack From Russia And China
*Washington Examiner:* *Japanese official warns US of potential surprise attack on Hawaii — from Russia and China* Russia and China are coordinating military exercises to threaten not only Taiwan but also Hawaii, according to a senior Japanese defense official who warned the United States to beware of a Pearl Harbor-style surprise attack. “We have to show the deterrence towards China, and not just China but also the Russians, because, as I told you, that they are doing their exercises together,” Japanese deputy Yasuhide Nakayama told the Hudson Institute this week. Taiwan’s... read more
Protesters In Colombia Are Finding Ways To Break The Stigma Of Dissent
Both Orjuela and Silvia reported that protesters — many of them friends and fellow activists — are being arrested en masse. While most are released without charges being filed, some are being subjected to what they describe as “judicial setups,” a tactic the state has employed against social movements for years. The post Protesters In Colombia Are Finding Ways To Break The Stigma Of Dissent appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
Cops Brutalize And Arrest Queer Marchers On Anniversary Of Stonewall Uprising
On early Sunday evening, after the Queer Liberation March and the Stonewall Protests’ Pride March, people poured into Washington Square Park. After individuals allegedly moved barricades, the police arrested, brutalized, and pepper-sprayed eight people. The post Cops Brutalize And Arrest Queer Marchers On Anniversary Of Stonewall Uprising appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
#Coronavirus on the Nile : July’s Coronavirus “Live Coverage”
It is another new month under the coronavirus pandemic in Egypt and the World. It is July and we have officially passed the third wave of coronavirus in June that hit the country in April and May. The official number of cases began to decline in June in Egypt but in other Arab countries like Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and UAE the numbers returned to increase thanks to the Delta variant. [image: Egyptian women and girls in the metro in time of coronavirus "AFP"] Egyptian women and girls in the metro in time of coronavirus "AFP" July is expected to witness an... read more
Climate Realism13 hours ago
Journal Gazette Story on Pending Coffee Collapse Is Long on Alarm but Short on Facts: Coffee Production Is Growing
An article in Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (credited to the Washington Post as the original source) highlighted by Google News today in a search for the term “climate change,” claims global warming is threatening a coffee crisis. This is false. Across its range, coffee production and yields per acre have been setting records with regularity […] The post Journal Gazette Story on Pending Coffee Collapse Is Long on Alarm but Short on Facts: Coffee Production Is Growing appeared first on Climate Realism. read more
Family’s Son Kidnapped by Police for Travelling With Weed from a Legal State to Alabama
[image: family]A family is fighting to get back their baby after the state kidnapped him because they travelled from a legal state with marijuana in their trunk. read more
The Rio Times13 hours ago
Brazil sees most June fires in Amazon rainforest since 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Brazil recorded the most fires in the Amazon rainforest in 14 years for the month of June, government data showed on Thursday, amid worries that an extreme drought in many parts of the region could fuel worse fires in months to come. National space research agency Inpe recorded 2,308 hot […] The post Brazil sees most June fires in Amazon rainforest since 2007 appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
Is Taiwan The Most Dangerous Flashpoint In U.S.-China Relations?
*CNBC: **Taiwan is the most dangerous flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, says former diplomat* * Taiwan is the “most dangerous” flashpoint in the relationship between the U.S. and China — but an outright conflict is not likely, said former Singapore senior diplomat Bilahari Kausikan. * Kausikan said “accidents can always happen,” but both the U.S. and China will likely “do their best to contain such accidents if they do occur.” * Kevin Rudd, former Australian prime minister and an astute China watcher, said unifying Taiwan with the mainland remains an “unfinished business” ... read more
Only Anti-Imperialism Can Save Us From Climate Catastrophe
The Green New Deal has become a popular slogan among progressive Democrats in recent years. But we need to be wary of the capitalist class co-opting the energy around climate change to maintain the imperialist global order they benefit from. The post Only Anti-Imperialism Can Save Us From Climate Catastrophe appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
The Rio Times14 hours ago
Brazil’s diagnostic giant DASA buys oncology specialist GEM Assistência Médica for US$150 million
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - DASA - Diagnósticos da América SA, the market leader in diagnostic medicine in Brazil and Latin America, announced that its Board of Directors approved the purchase of partner and control companies of GEM Assistência Médica through its subsidiary Ímpar Serviços Hospitalares for an amount of R$750 million (US$150 million). Ímpar […] The post Brazil’s diagnostic giant DASA buys oncology specialist GEM Assistência Médica for US$150 million appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
3 Pipeline Protesters Arrested After Large Sit-In At Energy Giant’s Waltham Offices
Three activists who refused to leave the Waltham offices of the pipeline company Enbridge were arrested by police Wednesday afternoon, ending a more than 27-hour occupation in protest of the multi-national energy giant behind the controversial Weymouth compressor station and other fossil fuel projects around the country. The post 3 Pipeline Protesters Arrested After Large Sit-In At Energy Giant’s Waltham Offices appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
Court Drops Bombshell On B.C. Natural Gas Industry
The B.C. Supreme Court has found the B.C. government infringed the Blueberry River First Nation’s treaty rights by allowing decades of industrial development in their traditional territory. The post Court Drops Bombshell On B.C. Natural Gas Industry appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
Balkinization14 hours ago
Response to the Symposium on Until Justice Be Done
For the Symposium on Kate Masur, Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, From the Revolution to Reconstruction (W. W. Norton & Company, 2021). Kate Masur I begin this response with thanks, first to Jack Balkin and Balkinization for hosting this forum, and above all to the eight scholars who took time to read and engage with *Until Justice Be Done*. Each one had already influenced my own perspectives on history and law, and I so appreciate their attention and insights. I’m grateful that my work seems to have spoken to readers in ways that I hoped it would. M... read more
Duck of Minerva14 hours ago
Five Things I Wish Someone had Told me in Grad School: Building a nurturing community
This is the fourth post in our week-long “Five Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me in Graduate School” series. Dr. Georgina Holmes is a Research Fellow in the War Studies Department, King’s College London, where she conducts research on gender, global security governance, peacekeeping and security sector reform. Twitter: @1GeorginaHolmes. In her recent blog […] read more
Two Major Developments In Julian Assange’s Case Could Be Game-Changing
British MPs applying pressure and the legal case against him falling apart, Assange’s future is once again in question. Whether parliamentary pressure and this new evidence will be enough for the imprisoned journalist to secure his freedom, though, is sadly debatable. The post Two Major Developments In Julian Assange’s Case Could Be Game-Changing appeared first on PopularResistance.Org. read more
Another Alleged Child Predator Disney Star Charged for Sex Crimes Against a Child
[image: disney]Kyle Massey, the Disney Channel star, has added his name to a growing list of child predators who have been hired and fired within the Disney empire. read more
The Rio Times14 hours ago
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro announces new Covid-19 vaccination schedule
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (DEM), announced Thursday a new vaccination schedule against Covid-19. Through his profile on the social network Twitter, the politician published a schedule by age groups with specific days, for the next two weeks, between July 5 and July 17. […] The post Mayor of Rio de Janeiro announces new Covid-19 vaccination schedule appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
IER14 hours ago
Why Do So Many Norwegians Buy Cars With Internal Combustion Engines?
In a memorable Super Bowl Commercial, Will Farrell was very frustrated that “Norway sells way more electric cars per capita… The post Why Do So Many Norwegians Buy Cars With Internal Combustion Engines? appeared first on IER. read more
The Rio Times15 hours ago
Fiocruz detects improved trend in Brazil’s ICU bed occupancy for Covid-19 cases
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) found an improvement in the trend of intensive care bed occupancy by adults suffering from Covid-19 in the country's National Health System (SUS). The improvement found by the foundation's researchers was published in the latest issue of Fiocruz's Covid-19 Observatory Bulletin, an information bulletin on […] The post Fiocruz detects improved trend in Brazil’s ICU bed occupancy for Covid-19 cases appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
The Rio Times15 hours ago
Business confidence in Brazil reaches highest level since December 2013 – FGV Ibre
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Business Confidence Index (ICE) of the Brazilian Economic Institute of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV Ibre) increased by 4.3 points to 98.8 points in June, reaching the highest level since December 2013; after the third consecutive high, the average of the second quarter of 2021 exceeded that of the […] The post Business confidence in Brazil reaches highest level since December 2013 – FGV Ibre appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
According To Study 81% of Vaccinated Early Stage Pregnancies Miscarried
The post According To Study 81% of Vaccinated Early Stage Pregnancies Miscarried appeared first on OYE Alternative News. read more
The Rio Times15 hours ago
SoftBank invests US$200 million In Brazil’s largest crypto exchange
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Japan's SoftBank Group has invested US$200 million in Mercado Bitcoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Latin America, said Roberto Dagnoni, executive chairman and chief executive officer of 2TM Group, the trading platform's parent company. The investment, raised in a Series B funding round, was made through SoftBank […] The post SoftBank invests US$200 million In Brazil’s largest crypto exchange appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Donald Rumsfeld, Defense Secretary During Iraq War, Is Dead at 88 Why airlines are canceling hundreds of flights — and what you can do Crushing climate impacts to hit sooner than feared: draft UN report Ex-President Jacob Zuma sentenced by South Africa's top court Arctic Circle is already recording 118 F degree days (and summer is just heating up) Infrastructure melting; Canada breaks records two days in a row... Thousands without power during record-breaking heat – Portland, OregonAndrew Sullivan - Don't Ban CRT. Expose It. Supreme Court allows coronavirus eviction ... read more
Organizing Notes7 hours ago
History lesson: Dirty bio-war lab secrets
This is one of the best films I've ever seen. I thank RT for producing it. I urge you to watch it and share the info with others. The terrible crimes of Japan's secret bio-war Unit 731 should be seen by every person on the planet. Thousands of people were used as test subjects for the development of biological weapons by Japan during WW II . The subjects (during Tokyo's occupation of China) were injected with cholera, typhoid, anthrax, bubonic plague, to be later dissected alive. *Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe just 'coincidentally' giving the thumbs up while in ... read more
The Treaty of Lausanne—The Birth of Turkey
The Treaty of Lausanne, which came into force on 6 August 1924, proves the dictum: the great wars are not won on the battlefield but in the postwar negotiations. Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) lost the First World War, but it won a remarkable victory in the postwar negotiations. The Entente Powers, mainly Britain, France, Greece, and Italy, played into the hands of Mustafa Kemal and his team of brilliant strategists and negotiators. The activities of Russia (which was now the Soviet Union) must have helped Turkey in having its way at the negotiations. But Kemal got the credit for savin... read more
Petition for More Stimulus Checks Heads Towards 3 Million Signatures
*Stephen Silver* *US Economy, * “Our country is still deeply struggling. The recovery hasn’t reached many Americans—the true unemployment rate for low-wage workers is estimated at over 20% and many people face large debts from last year for things like utilities, rent and child care,” the petition says. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *In the meantime, the first checks from the expanded child tax credit will go out beginning on July 15. Biden has proposed making that expanded credit extended through 2025, as part of what he calls the American Families Plan. A petition has b... read more
Deadly Minds: The 5 Best Military Strategists in Human History
*James Holmes* *Military History, Global* Some of the choices may surprise you. *Here's What You Need to Know*: You need both doers and thinkers to perpetuate strategic thought—but ultimately, the thinker with a feel for battlefield realities trumps the practitioner with little flair for analyzing his experiences, drawing out the takeaways and recording the results. Ranking military strategists against one another is a slippery chore. Apart from the obvious differences among strategists—the historical epochs when they lived, the state of martial technology in their lifetimes, wa... read more
France's Nuclear Weapons Stand Ready To Kill Millions
*Kyle Mizokami* *Nuclear Weapons, Europe* The resurgence of Russian military power will likely keep Paris a nuclear power for the foreseeable future. *Here's What You Need to Know*: Paris has the power to destroy entire nations. France was the fourth country to join the so-called “Nuclear Club,” and at the height of the Cold War maintained its own nuclear triad of land-based missiles, nuclear-armed bombers and ballistic missile submarines. Today, France’s sea-based nuclear deterrent is the home of most of its nuclear arsenal, with four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submari... read more
Run to the Bank: More $1400 Stimulus Checks Are on the Way
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Stimulus Check, Americas* Those much-anticipated expanded child tax credits will start heading into eligible parents’ bank accounts starting on July 15. Private payrolls growth surged at a faster rate than expected in June, according to ADP, but even with that news, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are still disbursing millions of new $1,400 coronavirus stimulus checks to eligible Americans under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The gain of nearly seven hundred thousand in private payrolls came in much higher than the five h... read more
China Wants to Dominate the South China Sea—and This Is How
*James Holmes* *China, China* Note: it might involve breaking international law. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *By all means, let’s review China’s way of war, discerning what we can about Chinese warmaking habits and reflexes. But these are not automatons replaying the Maoist script from the 1930s and 1940s. Last year China’s defense minister, *General Chang Wanquan*,* implored the nation to ready itself for a “people’s war at sea*.” The purpose of such a campaign? To “safeguard sovereignty” after an adverse ruling from the* International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea*. T... read more
California Green-Lights Another Round of Stimulus Checks  
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *economy, Americas* Earlier this week, both chambers of the California legislature approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to disburse additional $600 stimulus checks, which have come to be known as “Golden State Stimulus II.” As the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department continue to send out the remaining $1,400 coronavirus stimulus checks to eligible Americans, the state of California has already moved on to issue even more financial help to its struggling residents. Earlier this week, both chambers of the California legislature approved Gov. Gavin ... read more
800 Rounds Per Minute: Meet Israel's Impressive Tavor Rifle
*Kyle Mizokami* *Rifles, Middle East* The Tavor uses the long stroke piston-operated system common to many modern assault rifles, including the AK-47. *Here's What You Need to Know*: Israel makes a lot of home-made weapons. In the 1990s, Israel developed an innovative new rifle designed specifically for the urban Middle Eastern battlefield. A compact weapon that moved freely indoors, the Tavor was one of the few so-called “bullpup” assault rifle designs to enter service with a modern military force. The unique design of bullpup weapons allows them to have a shorter overall lengt... read more
In 2021, Texas Became the Epicenter of Stimulus Check Scams
*Stephen Silver* *Stimulus Checks, * A report from Axios earlier this month stated that as much as half of the recent unemployment money handed out by states may have been stolen. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *The most popular scams attempt to steal the checks by telling victims they must verify their information to receive a stimulus check. Scammers also request the victim`s bank info to directly deposit the funds that day. With stimulus checks coming out from the government since last year, an unfortunate side effect has been a surge in attempts by scammers to steal thos... read more
War News Updates15 hours ago
Chinese President Xi Vows To Crush Taiwan Independence Attempts
A giant screen shows Chinese President Xi Jinping singing the national anthem during a flag-raising ceremony at the event marking the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China July 1, 2021. © REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins *Reuters: **China's Xi pledges 'reunification' with Taiwan, gets stern rebuke* BEIJING/TAIPEI, July 1 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday to complete "reunification" with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to "smash" any attempts at formal independence, drawing a stern rebuke from Taipe... read more
Tropical Storm "Elsa" - Warnings issued for Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Tropical Storm "Elsa" formed at 09:00 UTC on July 1, as the fifth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. The system is expected to pass near or over portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday, July 2, move into...... Read more » read more
The New Dark Age15 hours ago
Proposal for ‘Code for the Policing of Protest’ is Netpol’s Charter in all but name
An Inquiry report published today by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Democracy and the Constitution has endorsed the demand – by local and national organisations and tens of thousands of members of the public who have supported Netpol’s Charter for Freedom of Assembly Rights – for clear guidelines on the way protests are policing. read more
The New Dark Age16 hours ago
A Remarkable Silence: Media Blackout After Key Witness Against Assange Admits Lying
As we have pointed out since Media Lens began in 2001, a fundamental feature of corporate media is propaganda by omission. Over the past week, a stunning example has highlighted this core property once again. read more
Mining Awareness +16 hours ago
Scientific Evidence for the Origin of COVID-19: Lab Leak vs Zoonotic (Testimony to US Congress)
“Scientific Evidence for the Origin of COVID-19 Richard Muller Testimony to the House Coronavirus Crisis Expert Forum 29 June 2021 … Continue reading → read more
Komando.com17 hours ago
How to buy Google search ads for your business or side hustle
Increase your small business profile with these Google Ads tips. read more
Komando.com18 hours ago
Haven’t backed up your files recently? You have a LOT to lose
Lost data can seriously set you back, costing you time, money and potentially more. Back up your data the smart way. read more
Komando.com19 hours ago
Hurry! Microsoft’s PDF Manager is free to download right now
Get Microsoft's PDF Manager for free here. read more
Canada Day: Rising above the Hate
We've seen how the Chinese Communist Party is trying to teach kids to hate America. Well they're trying to do that here in Canada too. The unmarked graves at Catholic residential schools is trending. As a result, several Catholic churches on Indiginous land have burnt to the ground. I obviously don't support that as many First Nation members attended those churches and people today are not responsible for what someone else did many years ago. It's like the concept of original sin. I'm responsible for what I do not what Adam did. However, at least they're not blaming John A MacDonal... read more
IT'S ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO SUFFER, SO WHO CARES?
In response to the decision by South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to send National Guard troops to the Southern border and take cash from a billionaire donor to pay for the deployment, Charlie Pierce writes: Here we have a cabal of Republican governors using their law-enforcement apparatus—and now, their National Guard troops—in a coordinated exercise in political gamesmanship, if not outright sabotage. The exercise is independently funded to prevent political blowback at home. What’s to prevent this band of ghouls from putting this kind of thing together to take more, ah, “active” ... read more

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