10 pm MDT
SSTs Stay Cool April 2020
Originally posted on Science Matters: The best context for understanding decadal temperature changes comes from the world’s sea surface temperatures (SST), for several reasons: The ocean covers 71% of the globe and drives average temperatures; SSTs have a constant water content, (unlike air temperatures), so give a better reading of heat content variations; A major…
Still pack ice around Bear Island in the Barents Sea on 15 May: last time was 2003
Originally posted on polarbearscience: It’s very open drift ice (1-4/10th concentration) but still: Bear Island (Bjørnøya) in the southern Barents Sea was still surrounded by pack ice at 15 May 2020. As far as I can tell from the Norwegian Ice Service archived ice charts, this hasn’t happened since 2003. And last week, the island…
This One Battle Saved Leningrad From Nazi Destruction During World War II
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* [image: Field Marshall Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. October 1941. German Federal Archive/Schröter.] The Soviet Red Army blunted a German drive to capture the town of Tikhvin and seal the fate of Leningrad during Operation Barbarossa. The men of Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb’s Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North) had little sleep during the night of June 21, 1941. Long before midnight, assault infantry and engineers had begun moving toward the border with the Soviet Union, the silence broken only by an occasional cough and the croa... more »
Germany's World War I Stormtroopers Were Impressive but Too Late to Win the War
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* [image: By Unknown author, is not mentioned anywhere - Graf Eberhard v. Schwerin: Königl. preuß. Sturm-Bataillon Nr. 5 (Rohr); Sporn, Zeulenroda in Thüringen 1939, 166 Seiten, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32672015] Here's what they could do. *Key point: *These soldiers could break through enemy lines in ways that others couldn't. However, they could not over come the impossible. The word "stormtrooper" has a funny reputation. It conjures memories of brownshirted Nazi thugs terrorizing Jews, or images o... more »
Superpower: These 5 Weapons Are Why the Soviet Union Was so Mighty
*Michael Peck* *History, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2010%3Anewsml_GM1E68H16GY01&share=true] The Red Army was no joke. *Key point: *Moscow commanded a powerful military that kept many in Washington up at night. This is why many were taken aback when the Soviet Union eventually just fell apart. The Soviet Union ceased to exist as of 25 years ago tomorrow--an anniversary that is not fully appreciated to this day. And while the old USSR might be gone, one big legacy lives on: The Soviet Union's history of weapons production and design... more »
Flying Tanks: How the P-47 Gave Birth to the Fearsome A-10
*Michael Peck* *History, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2002%3Anewsml_PBEAHUKSUCS&share=true] Now that's a legacy. *Key point: *These planes can take a punch and dish out a lot of punishment. Here's how they both served as vital close air support. Everyone loves a Thunderbolt. Today's A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, is possibly the most beloved aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, or at least it is to American ground troops (to the Air Force brass, the Thunderbolt is a Thunderpain). But 75 years ago, there was another Thunde... more »
Defending Against Hypersonic Missiles Means Better Sensors In Space
*Douglas M. Fraser, Frank Gorenc, John S. Shapland* *Security, Americas* [image: An artist's sketch of an Air Force X-60A launch. U.S. Air Force.] Detecting and tracking missiles hypersonic missiles for adequate warning would require an unsustainable number of terrestrial sensors. To ensure an effective defense design against hypersonic weapons requires a space sensing layer. While the U.S. is rightly focused on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the leaders within Congress and the Pentagon to also prioritize preparing for another threat for which the nation cu... more »
How to Help Ensure People Use the Coronavirus Vaccine When We Finally Get One
*Kirsten Axelsen, Benson Hsu* *Public Health, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2PNG9PC6FO&share=true] These tools would help. Biopharmaceutical companies are racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine. Blueprints for re-opening the US economy hinge on testing, treatment, and vaccination. While we wait for a vaccine, we can gain a better understanding of the behavioral and financial incentives that could achieve higher rates of vaccination. Two vaccinations are recommended to prevent a leading cause of death for seniors: ... more »
Amazing: Facebook Has Brought the Internet to a Billion People
*Roslyn Layton* *Technology, World* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2HUF9BSUV6&share=true] A vital step forward for connectivity. Much has changed in the tech policy world in the last five years. Take, for example, the raging debate in 2015 over the rollout of Facebook’s Free Basics, an open mobile platform providing free access to apps for news, health, education, jobs, and communication for first-time internet users with low-bandwidth connectivity. Self-appointed internet guardians railed against the notion of “zero-rated” inte... more »
New Pattern: How Coronavirus Seems to Be Increasing the Risk of Stroke
*David Werring, Arvind Chandratheva* *Public Health, Europe* [image: Reuters] In just two weeks in April 2020, our team saw six people with COVID-19 and similar acute strokes caused by a blocked large brain artery. Just as Arvind was heading home after a long day as the consultant on call, his phone began to ring. It was a patient with a suspected stroke. Most other days it would be the registrar (junior doctor) first on the scene, but in the midst of the COVID crisis something – a gut instinct – told Arvind to stick around to see this patient. A blue-light ambulance transfer wa... more »
How Trump’s Constant Attacks on China over Coronavirus Won't Help
*Joshua Eisenman, Devin Stewart* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] Rather than sing the same sad song about the source of the coronavirus, the United States needs to lead a choir of nations in a hymn about how this pandemic, like SARS before it, was made possible by the lack of transparency intrinsic to China’s national socialist political system. It is only through collaboration among democracies can the United States seize the day and create what the world desperately needs: a muscular coalition of like-minded nations that will prevail in this crisis, as well as secure the f... more »
Iran's Air Force Can't Defend Its Air Space Against America
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * They stand no chance. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The common theme emerges that the IRIAF is patently incapable of defending the entirety of Iran’s airspace with conventional means. But provided that they have access to the right anti-air equipment and are able to use it proactively, They stand a good chance of dragging out the conflict and thereby preventing a repeat of what the USAF managed. The geopolitical struggle between Washington and Tehran is anything but new, stemming back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution and subsequent overthrow of... more »
A U.S. North Korea Deal Is Still Doable
*Glyn Ford* *Security, Asia* Is a 'rewind to Singapore' possible? The seeds of this year’s crisis on the Korean Peninsula were sown in 2019, when Kim Jong-un’s offer in his New Year’s address was disdainfully spurned by U.S. president Donald Trump. After the 2018 Singapore Summit and the 2019 address, Kim attempted to forge a totally new relationship with Trump. 2018’s address had been all bombast and bravado, threats, and ultimatums. The 2019 address was misheard as continuity, not change. Mass production of ICBMs and nuclear weapons were abandoned in favour of arms conversion i... more »
How Finland's World War II Defeat Preserved Its Independence
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* If Hitler's SS panzer divisions couldn't stop the Russian steamroller, neither could the Finns, who had to retreat back to their fortified lines. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The Soviets had redeemed the humiliation of the Winter War with a powerful, well-planned offensive that knocked Finland out of the war. However, Finland had again managed to maintain its independence and remain a democratic nation on the borders of the Soviet Union. Befuddled Soviet riflemen floundering through deep snow and sub-zero temperatures while they froze to ... more »
U.S.-China Nuclear Competition Makes Keeping Navies Balanced In the Pacific Much Harder
*James Goldrick* *Security, Asia* [image: A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea April 12, 2018. Picture taken April 12, 2018. Reuters/Stringer.] Distinguishing threatening and protecting nuclear assets from routine maritime campaigns is increasingly difficult. The maritime strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific is changing rapidly. The future of undersea nuclear deterrent forces has strategic, operational and force structure aspects for all major p... more »
The COVID-19 Chronicles: China
*Author's note: This is part of The Covid-19 Chronicles Series covering how nations and regions are responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis. * *May 14, 2020 *(Gunnar Ulson - NEO) - With the US spiraling downward, a downward trajectory merely steepened by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, we'd expect other nations to suffer likewise. But China, where we are told the virus first appeared, has already bounced back. While it has significant damage to repair socioeconomically, it has not only overcome the initial outbreak, but has put into place mo... more »
Australian Daily Wind Power Generation Data – Friday 15th May 2020
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily wind power generation data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click […]
Washington Post Media Columnist Wants An ‘Executive Editor’ For 3 Billion Facebook Users!?
By P.J. Gladnick ~ Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan acknowledged Facebook has never three billion users, but she still wants it to have an “Executive Editor” to punish and censor the “misinformation” that is harming our democracy. The fact that Facebook’s new Oversight Board has only two out of twenty members who are conservative […]
The Left Shouldn’t Be Cheering For Energy Industry Demise
By Larry Bell ~ Petroleum and natural gas industries that provide about 85% of America’s energy (with wind and solar constituting barely over 3%) is under siege by adversaries — both foreign and domestic. The first major assault was launched by a no-winner dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia that flooded the global market with […]
Soros Thinks That Germany Is A Greater Threat To His Plans Than COVID, Trump, Or China
Billionaire philanthropist and infamous Color Revolution financier George Soros recently elaborated on his views of International Relations in the midst of World War C during an interview with the UK’s “Independent”, unexpectedly concluding that Germany’s recent court ruling against the European Central Bank’s purchase of national bonds poses an “existential […]
Tweets For Today
BREAKING: The coronavirus is running rampant in Yemen, a country ravaged by years of brutal civil war. The registrar in the main southern city of Aden has recorded more than 500 deaths in the past week, many times higher than its usual death rate. https://t.co/vbiVjjFD48 — The Associated Press (@AP) May 15, 2020 Africa will ESCAPE a massive death toll from COVID-19 - but one in five people will still catch the coronavirus, WHO predicts https://t.co/QD19FvEuMj — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 16, 2020 A behind-the-scenes look at social distancing inside the White House, br... more »
West Coast Eagles want to avoid playing in Victoria when AFL season resumes
Just In - 22 hours ago
The Eagles are hoping they won't have to travel south from their Gold Coast base for AFL matches once the 2020 season recommences after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The New Smallpox Blanket: The Defective Coronavirus Test
The FDA issued an alert about the rapid coronavirus tests that Trump brought to the Navajo Nation at the Native Roundtable. The Indian Health Service has been using the Abbott tests since early April, which are delivering false results, resulting in the spread of the virus. Breaking News By Brenda Norrell Censored News The FDA issued a warning about the Abbott rapid coronavirus
Spain links death to food supplement made in the US
Spanish authorities have issued a warning about a food supplement from the United States after it was linked to a death in Spain. The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) reported the withdrawal of Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen for possible serious adverse reactions. The supplement is a MuscleTech brand, which is owned by... Continue Reading
May 16th – 2020 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day #1213
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and … Continue reading →
Saturday May 16th – Open Thread
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those … Continue reading →
Acting DNI Ric Grenell Announces Organizational Changes to National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)…
The Terror Threat Integration Center (TTIC) was created in 2003 by George W Bush and was first headed by John Brennan. In August 2004, and at the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, TTIC was incorporated into the National Counterterrorism Center … Continue reading →
Jordan's King Abdullah Warns Israel Of 'Massive Conflict' If It Annexes The West Bank
King Abdullah II participates in the US Virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, on 12 May (Facebook\The Royal Hashemite Court) *Middle East Eye:* *Jordan's King Abdullah warns of 'massive conflict' if Israel annexes West Bank* Monarch say his country is considering all options, including cancelling the 1994 Wadi Araba peace treaty Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned the Israeli government’s plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank could lead to "massive conflict" and said his kingdom is "considering all options", including freezing or cancelling its 1994 peace tre... more »
Picture Of The Day
Artists perform during celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in WWII, in Krasnodar, Russia. © Sputnik / Vitaly Timkiv *WNU Editor:* The above picture came from this photo-gallery .... *This Week in Pictures: 9 - 15 May* (Sputnik).
Boy dies in quad bike accident near Geelong
Just In - 23 hours ago
A 10-year-old boy dies from his injuries after being involved in a quad bike accident on Saturday.
'A way to add an income': COVID-19 makes tiny homes more popular than ever
Tiny homes have long been sought-after by those needing affordable housing but since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the industry is being inundated with inquiries from a new breed of tiny-home enthusiasts.
Ellie Price's accused killer Ricardo Barbaro withdrawing from Xanax and Valium, court hears
Just In - 23 hours ago
The 33-year-old is remanded in custody after a week-long manhunt, telling a judge he is withdrawing from prescription drugs.
Woman dead, man critical, two seriously injured and a car utterly destroyed after head-on crash in Perth
Just In - 23 hours ago
A 21-year-old woman is dead after the car she was a passenger in was torn in half during a collision with another car near Mundaring, in Perth's east. Three other people were also seriously injured.
'That is not COVID-safe, that is COVID-dangerous': NSW records three new cases
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warns people not to flout social distancing rules in light of eased lockdown restrictions as three new coronavirus cases are recorded in the state.
Typhoon Vongfong strikes the Philippines as coronavirus hinders relief efforts
Just In - 23 hours ago
A man dies trying to take shelter in a church as Typhoon Vongfong brings wind gusts up to 255 kilometres per hour, destroying homes and crops in the Philippines' east.
Anger after Centrelink outpost shutdown leaves locals to pick up the pieces
The abrupt closure of a Centrelink agency in a remote WA town left local services scrambling. But community leaders say the problems with the system run a lot deeper than that.
'Millions of litres' of beer tipped down drain due to ongoing pub closures
Brewers are expected to tip millions of litres of beer down the drain as it goes stale in pubs with no patrons, but also to avoid paying alcohol taxes if they try to sell it later.
Nurse went back to aged care facility while awaiting positive coronavirus result
Just In - 23 hours ago
All residents at a central Queensland aged care facility have so far tested negative to COVID-19, after the centre was placed in lockdown because a nurse was diagnosed with coronavirus.
COVID-19 Has Reached A Critical Stage In Latin America
*Anadolu Agency:* *COVID-19 reaches critical stage in Latin America* Brazil, Peru and Chile have highest number of coronavirus cases on continent Latin America is going through the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Many countries in the region, including Brazil and Chile, have broken their records for cases and daily deaths in recent days with an epidemic curve that continues to maintain an upward trend. One of the most affected regions is the Amazon, where indigenous people are dying without their loved ones being able to pay them tribute with their traditional rites. *Read... more »
‘Operation Warp Speed’ Seeks COVID-19 Vaccine By January
By Fred Lucas ~ President Donald Trump on Friday announced “Operation Warp Speed,” an initiative to accelerate development of a vaccine for the coronavirus by January. The program is a joint venture by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Department, Trump said. To lead the effort to find a vaccine against […]
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