Fair Use Note

WARNING for European visitors: European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. You are responsible for confirming this notice actually works for your blog, and that it displays. If you employ other cookies, for example by adding third party features, this notice may not work for you. Learn more about this notice and your responsibilities.

Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Sunday, August 22, 2021

22 August - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

 10:12 pm MDT

Booster Jabs Boost Outbreaks and Pharma Profits
“Not safe enough to be used as oven cleaner.” ~ Dr. Vernon Coleman Dear Reader: I have just been listening to an interview by Jeff Rense with Erika Kahn and am rather in shock. This article by Stephen Lendman is just a distraction as the magnitude of this war against all of humanity is being waged against us. Including Israelis. Fortify yourself and listen to the above interview. Rense or not, the information is riveting. And, I might add, thoroughly depressing. But knowledge is necessary, no matter how dark it might be. Radiation sickness is on the uptick.... By Stephen Lendman... read more
Is the BBC biased?11 hours ago
''We conflated...In fact...We also said...To be clear''
Talking of *Newsnight *and BBC management 'corrections'... Did you see this - a BBC 'correction and clarification' issued on 16/8, some four months after the offending programme was originally broadcast? *Newsnight, BBC Two, 20 April 2021* We conflated the vaccination rates for Israel’s Palestinian citizens and Palestinians in the occupied territories when we said the roll-out rate was half a percent. In fact, within Israel it was then estimated to be around 67%. We also said the “Palestinian population has not been inoculated at anywhere near the rate of the Israeli population.” ... read more
Caitlin Johnstone13 hours ago
Bush-Era War Criminals Are Louder Than Ever Because They’ve Lost The Argument
Listen to a reading of this article: ❖ After the US troop withdrawal established conclusively that the Afghan “government” they’d spent twenty years pretending to nation build with was essentially a work of fiction, thus proving to the world that they’ve been lying to us […] read more
Lawfare14 hours ago
The Failure of Counterterrorism After the Civil War
A mob of white men burn a school for formerly enslaved people during riots targeting the Black community in Memphis in May 1866. Photo credit: Sketch by Alfred Rudolph Ward for Harper's Magazine via Wikimedia Commons Editor’s Note: *This article is drawn from my **long, scholarly article**, “**White Supremacy, Terrorism, and the Failure of Reconstruction in the United States,”* *published in International Security. Additional references (often to books that are not online) are in the longer piece, as are specific page numbers of some of the books linked to in the article below.* ... read more
On Contact: A Different Kind Of War
On the show this week, Chris Hedges discusses the plight of everyday people victimized by the hardships of life in Mexico and Central America with author and journalist J. Malcolm Garcia. His new book is ‘A Different Kind of War: Uneasy Encounters in Mexico and Central America’. A collection of essays informed by grief and anger, the book reveals the varied and distinctive voices of those families fleeing the violence of Honduras, Mexican reporters covering gang conflict in Juarez, and children living off the refuse of a landfill. The post On Contact: A Different Kind Of War appea... read more
Don't Let Its Size Fool You: Ruger's SP101 Compact Revolver Packs a Punch
*Kyle Mizokami* *Guns, * The SP101 occupies a curious place in Ruger’s lineup. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum were wearing out in the hands of owners faster than anticipated—Ruger had believed users would shoot a mix of cheaper, lighter recoil .38 Special ammunition and more expensive, heavier recoil .357 Magnum ammunition. In reality, users shot .357 loads far more than the company had predicted. In 1988 Sturm Ruger firearms introduced what would become one of their most popular revolvers of all time: the SP101 compact revolver. The SP101 ... read more
Five Killer Bullets That Pack a Punch
*Kyle Mizokami* *Guns, Americas* These are the bullets that will do the most damage to the human body. *Here’s What You Need to Remember:* Since their invention in the tenth century, engineers, soldiers and tinkerers have constantly tried to make firearms more deadly. Typically that involves moving to heavier bullets driven by more powerful gunpowders, and while that is effective it is also louder, generates more recoil and necessitates new firearms. One solution is the creation of newer, deadlier ammunition for existing guns. *Dum Dum Bullets* Dum Dum bullets were developed for... read more
MUSINGS ON IRAQ11 hours ago
This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 22
1973 Sheikh Jabir al-Sabah visited Iraq and again offered to talk about Iraq-Kuwait border dispute Iraq demanded 2 islands from Kuwait which it refused 1991 Bush announced no fly zone over southern Iraq to stop Saddam offensive to clear out southern marshes (Musings On Iraq review *The United States And Iraq Since 1990: A Brief History with Documents*) 1995 UN interviewed Hussein Kamal former Industry Min and Saddam’s son-in-law that defected to Jordan Kamal said Iraq hid its WMD and nuke programs from inspectors but all programs ended after Gulf War US and UN didn’t bel... read more
5,688 Battleship Bullets: USS New Jersey Rained Fire Down in Vietnam
*Kyle Mizokami* *USS New Jersey, * 20,000 shells. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *The battlewagon fired nearly twenty thousand shells during its tour of duty, bombarding enemy forces the way only a battleship can. As the war in Vietnam reached its crescendo, the U.S. Navy prepared to recommission one of the most powerful ships ever to serve in the fleet. USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship, was reactivated to provide naval gunfire support for American and allied forces fighting in South Vietnam. The battlewagon fired nearly twenty thousand shells during its tour of dut... read more
How the T-28 Trainer Became a War Legend
*Peter Suciu* *military, Americas* The T-28 was employed in combat in the 1960s—and was reportedly first used by the CIA in the former Belgian Congo, while the French Armée de l’Air used modified Trojans in a close air support role in Algeria. *Here’s What You Need to Remember: *When it entered service as a trainer in the early 1950s, few would have likely expected the North American Aviation T-28 Trojan to see use in a combat role. However, the piston-engine T-28—which was designed to replace the World War II-era T-6 Texan trainer—possessed such a higher performance than its for... read more
MJBizDaily11 hours ago
CenturionPro set to corner the dry batch trimmer market
Press Release – Aug 18, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Available in 5 Models, CenturionPro Offers a Dry Batch Trimmer to suit every harvest size Maple Ridge, BC, Canada – CenturionPro Solutions Inc., the cannabis and hemp industry’s leading manufacturer of elite harvesting solutions, has developed the market’s highest capacity and most versatile line of dry […] CenturionPro set to corner the dry batch trimmer market is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs read more
CFACT12 hours ago
How climate change fueled the Taliban?
Don’t blame Joe, they would have us believe, blame your energy use. The post How climate change fueled the Taliban? appeared first on CFACT. read more
The Rio Times12 hours ago
With the devaluation of the real, Brazilian remittances abroad set a record
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Roberlei Cardoso, after retiring as a sales representative in Cascavel (PR) in 2015, went to London to work in the real estate sector. He and his wife, Leila Previati, who works in a restaurant in the British capital, have always considered their financial life successful in the land of the […] The post With the devaluation of the real, Brazilian remittances abroad set a record appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Small Dead Animals12 hours ago
CBC Celebrates Communism
Among its many stories on blacks and Indians at the website, the Liberal cult’s CBC looks at the rise of communism on Turtle Island. Apparently trans people and Palestinians are excited about the party. Blackie has honorary membership. read more
White Wolf12 hours ago
Women's Moon: What You Need to Know About August Full Moon 2021
The full moon of August 2021 will be glowing in the night sky this weekend, and it will be a “blue moon.” But not the type of blue moon you’re probably familiar with. And nope, the moon won’t be shaded in the color of its nickname. The most common type of blue moon is the second of two full moons appearing during the same calendar month. While that scenario played out last October, when we had a full moon on Oct. 1 and another full moon on Halloween, that’s not the case this month. Only one full moon will appear this month, but it happens to classify as a “seasonal blue moon” — th... read more
Food Safety News12 hours ago
USDA offers advice for those in path of Tropical Storm Henri
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families, and small businesses in the path of Tropical Storm Henri that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state, and county offices stand ready and are eager to help. The storm is expected to... Continue Reading read more
Donald Trump Booed at Alabama Rally After Encouraging Crowd to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Newsweek – by Christina Zhao Former President Donald Trump was booed by his own supporters during a rally in Cullman, Alabama Saturday night after he... The post Donald Trump Booed at Alabama Rally After Encouraging Crowd to Get COVID-19 Vaccine appeared first on From the Trenches World Report. read more
Gregory Mannarino, AM 8/22/21: "Markets, A Look Ahead - Keeping You Way Ahead Of The Curve"
Gregory Mannarino, AM 8/22/21: *"Markets, A Look Ahead -* * Keeping You Way Ahead Of The Curve"* - https://traderschoice.net/ read more
Small Dead Animals13 hours ago
Wuhan Flu: They Shoot Puppies, Don’t They?
Several impounded dogs due to be rescued by a shelter have instead been shot dead by a rural council in NSW under its interpretation of COVID-19 restrictions, alarming animal activists and prompting a government probe. Bourke Shire Council, in the state’s north-west, killed the dogs to prevent volunteers at a Cobar-based animal shelter from travelling… Continue reading → read more
MJBizDaily13 hours ago
How to sell an ancillary cannabis business: Q&A with Lbs Distribution CEO Ross Haley
When Ross Haley entered the cannabis industry 20 years ago, it was to sell the proverbial “picks and shovels” with Ag Natural, an ancillary company he founded to focus on gardening supplies for Northern California marijuana farmers. How to sell an ancillary cannabis business: Q&A with Lbs Distribution CEO Ross Haley is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs read more
Is the BBC biased?13 hours ago
BBC management makes Lewis Goodall delete a tweet
Just to recall a comment of mine from 10 July concerning the mooted appointment of former *Huff Post* editor Jess Brammar to the post of the BBC's executive news editor, despite her history of left-wing tweets: An interesting part of this story is that Robbie Gibb communicated his reservations about Jess Brammar in a message to Fran Unsworth. Someone at the BBC has obviously leaked this. Jess Brammar is part of the old *Newsnight* circle of friends on Twitter that includes my old favourite Lewis Goodall. Lewis and Robbie Gibb, as you'll probably remember, had a bitter Twitte... read more
Science Matters15 hours ago
July 2021 Oceans Warm Slightly
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 El Nino was the dominant […] read more
SOMEONE SOMEWHERE17 hours ago
India approves world’s first DNA Covid vaccine – BBC News
India approves world’s first DNA Covid vaccine – BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57774294 read more
The Number One Threat to the American Homeland? Russia.
*Caleb Larson* *Afghanistan, Asia* Russia seems to be increasingly comfortable exercising bombastic rhetoric and is also flexing its military might quite close to U.S. territory. One Air Force general thinks that Russia, more than other countries, has both the means and the mentality to pose a credible threat to the United States. In the opinion of one U.S. Air Force general, the primary threat to the United States today comes from Russia, thanks to advanced submarine and cruise missile design. “[Russia] developed capabilities that didn’t exist twenty years ago . . . very low... read more
Taliban Takeover: Ashraf Ghani Denies Stealing Millions During Escape Flight
*Trevor Filseth* *Afghanistan, Middle East* If the amount of cash that the former Afghan leader is alleged to have carried out of the country were transported in $100 bills, then its weight would exceed one and a half tons. Ashraf Ghani, the country’s president from 2014 until August 2021, has surfaced in the United Arab Emirates following his escape from Afghanistan. A brief statement from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that the government had offered him sanctuary on humanitarian grounds, following his escape from Kabul in the hou... read more
Keep an Eye on This: Social Security Reforms Introduced to Congress
*Trevor Filseth* *Social Security, Americas* Rep. Gwen Moore's new bill aims to do a lot by expanding Social Security payments. In the House of Representatives, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) has introduced a bill intended to reduce poverty among elderly Americans by expanding Social Security payments. The “Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act,” as the bill is called, contains three main proposals to expand benefits and prevent retired Americans from falling into poverty due to low payments. First, the bill would update Social Security’s “special minimum benefit,” a basic leve... read more
This Is How India Turns the Tide in a War With Pakistan (and Vice Versa)?
*Kyle Mizokami* *India Pakistan, * For its part, the Indian army plans to immediately take the offensive under a doctrine called “Cold Start.” *Here's What You Need To Remember: *Not only are the armies of India and Pakistan both larger in personnel than the U.S. Army, but they have stood at alert facing one another since the dissolution of the British Indian Army in 1947. The two armies have clashed four times in the past seventy years, and may yet do so again in the future. The Indian subcontinent is home to two of the largest armies on Earth. Not only are the armies of India ... read more
Hated by the Army, the M114 Armored Fighting Vehicle Was Sent to Police America
*Peter Suciu* *M114, Americas* While the M113 will have a lasting legacy as capable vehicle that could be used in a variety of roles, another similar armored vehicle could arguably be best forgotten—yet remains in use domestically for dubious reasons. *Here's What You Need to Know*: It wasn’t until 1973 that Gen. Creighton Abrams—for whom the M1 Abrams tank was named—branded the M114 a complete failure and had it retired from the U.S. Army. Yet, because of budget constraints and the fact that produce of the M113s couldn’t meet demand the M114 still remained with many active and r... read more
Reality Check: China Is Paving a Path Toward the Virtual Future
*William Shumate, Tim Marler* *Virtual Reality, Asia* China is organizing its virtual reality industry and the United States could do the same. The United States may have unrealized opportunities to accelerate broad benefits from virtual reality (VR) technology. Especially when viewed through the lens of international competition, U.S. efforts to organize and stimulate the VR industry have been relatively small. Moreover, the lack of concentrated support and attention could risk enabling various threats from competing nations. Although VR has been used extensively in the entert... read more
America Got Afghanistan Wrong, But It Can Still Make Things Right
*Akbar Ahmed* *Afghanistan, Middle East* America must do what it does best: it needs to lead a coalition to help rebuild Afghanistan. But this time, it should arrive in the land with plans for schools, colleges, and development schemes, not missiles and drones. “I would rather be a grass cutter in the British camp than the ruler of Afghanistan.” Uttering these immortal words, Yaqub Khan, the former king of Afghanistan in the nineteenth century, stumbled into the British camp in Peshawar. Ashraf Ghani, the latest ruler of Afghanistan, taking lessons from history, stuffed cash into... read more
Shooting HEX NUTS with a bow? YESSSS!
JoergSprave Jul 18, 2021 The post Shooting HEX NUTS with a bow? YESSSS! appeared first on From the Trenches World Report. read more
“Patsy” Behind Capitol Threat Told Feds His “Bomb” Was “Built by Y’all’s People,” “The People Y’all Had in The Military”
Information Liberation – by Chris Menahan Floyd Ray Roseberry, the mentally disabled “patsy” behind the conveniently-timed bomb threat to the Capitol on Thursday, said repeatedly... The post “Patsy” Behind Capitol Threat Told Feds His “Bomb” Was “Built by Y’all’s People,” “The People Y’all Had in The Military” appeared first on From the Trenches World Report. read more
When Superstition Overthrows Reason
Vaccine mandates are -- finally -- on the menu. Martin Regg Cohn writes: With an election getting underway, Justin Trudeau mandated vaccinations for air and rail travel, also requiring those in federal government jobs to get jabs — not least Liberal candidates looking for work on Parliament Hill. At Queen’s Park, Doug Ford finally saw his way to cracking down on health-care workers who were falling through the cracks, while ordering all 64,000 civil servants to get vaccinated — including his own Progressive Conservative MPPs and future candidates. At city hall, John Tory is now p... read more
CIA Gave Afghan Warlords Viagra to Help Them ‘Rape More Boys More Often’
Information Liberation – by Chris Menahan The Taliban’s rise to power was driven in part by their opposition to Afghan tribal leaders’ systematic rape of... The post CIA Gave Afghan Warlords Viagra to Help Them ‘Rape More Boys More Often’ appeared first on From the Trenches World Report. read more
India Tests Ballistic Missile Interceptor, Raising Fears in Pakistan
*Michael Peck* *Missile Defense, Asia* In turn, a Pakistani buildup might prompt an India buildup, sparking a vicious cycle reminiscent of the Cold War. *Here's What You Need to Know*: India is notorious for developing home-grown weapons, such as aircraft and tanks, that take much longer to develop than expected, and are plagued with problems when they are fielded. But as always with nuclear weapons and missile defense, perception is everything. India says it successfully tested an interceptor capable of shooting down ballistic missiles. But could this trigger a nuclear war wit... read more
The Rio Times13 hours ago
Brazilian Film Festival of Gramado awards Uruguayan and Argentinean films
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The film "La teoría de los vidrios rotos", directed by Uruguayan Diego Fernández Pujol, won the "Kikito" award in the category of a best foreign feature film at the Brazilian Festival of Gramado, which ended on Sunday. In the festival's international section, the film "Planta Permanente" by Argentine Ezequiel Radusky […] The post Brazilian Film Festival of Gramado awards Uruguayan and Argentinean films appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger
Oil Price – by Simon Watkins Iran last week revealed a huge new gas deposit located in the Iranian sector of the Caspian Sea. The... The post Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger appeared first on From the Trenches World Report. read more
The Rio Times13 hours ago
Panama’s 1st half-year exports rise 108.7 % over 2020, thanks to mining sector
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Panama's exports rose 108.7% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2020, driven by mining and timber, the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) reported Thursday, August 19. According to preliminary figures from the statistics agency, Panama exported US$1,664 billion worth of goods […] The post Panama’s 1st half-year exports rise 108.7 % over 2020, thanks to mining sector appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
Despite Majority of US Calling for End to Qualified Immunity, Feds Tell Americans It’s Here to Stay
[image: qualified immunity]The doctrine of qualified immunity that shields state actors from liability has been taken off the table as the Feds discuss "reform." read more
Halifax Examiner14 hours ago
‘Houston, we have…’
One down, and one more we-interrupt-your-summer-to-bring-you-this-election-campaign to get through. Perhaps it’s time for a quick recap of the good, the bad and the random from last week’s Nova Scotia provincial election. First the bad news. Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives will form a majority government. I say that in the most non-partisan way I can muster. […] read more
CURMUDGUCATION15 hours ago
ICYMI: Stone Skipping Edition (8/22)
This is the weekend on which, every year, I judge a stone skipping competition in my small town. It's a fun time. Ethics Complaint Filed in North Carolina Lately it's been one damn thing after another in NC. Now it turns out one of the heads of the legislature's education committee forgot to mention that his wife is connected to a chartter school. *Has school ventilation improved as schools open?* Nancy Bailey looks at one of the most basic protections against Covid spread in schools. *What would it rake to do what's right for kids* Nancy Flanagan speaks to the importance of... read more
21st Century Wire15 hours ago
Episode #386 – ‘Pseudo Pandemic’ with guest Iain Davis and more
*SUNDAY WIRE* | Strap yourselves in and lower the blast shield – this is your brave new world… read more
The Myth of Western Military Superiority
The West is regarded as the world’s great military power. But the history of the wars between Western and non-Western powers shows that whenever the West faces a serious military challenge from a non-Western power, it is either defeated or is bogged down in an endless conflict. The idea of Western military superiority is a great myth. The West is not a civilization of warriors. It is a civilization of marketers, advertisers, propagandists, publicists, fiction writers, and fake historians. Their forte is in bragging, self-promotion, and selling propaganda. They love to project themse... read more
"Be The Person..."
"We are fast moving into something, we are fast flung into something like asteroids cast into space by the death of a planet, we the people of earth are cast into space like burning asteroids and if we wish not to disintegrate into nothingness we must begin to now hold onto only the things that matter while letting go of all that doesn't. For when all of our dust and ice deteriorates into the cosmos we will be left only with ourselves and nothing else. So if you want to be there in the end, today is the day to start holding onto your children, holding onto your loved ones; onto tho... read more
The Daily "Near You?"
Martinez, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by! read more
"A Self-congratulatory Delusion..."
"Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told - and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lea... read more
North Korean Assassins Almost Murdered South Korea’s President in 1968 in His Own House
*Sebastien Roblin* *North Korea, East Asia* Park Chung-hee is deeply shaken by the fact that thirty-one assassins had come within a few hundred meters of his doorstep. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *In all, twenty-six South Korean soldiers and civilians die in the firefight in front of the Blue House and the manhunt that follows, and sixty-six are wounded. Additionally, three American soldiers are killed by North Korean forces while combing the DMZ for the infiltrators. Recently the South Korean defense minister caused a stir when he announced the military was forming a “de... read more
These .38 Revolvers are Blowing Away the Competition
*Kyle Mizokami* *Guns, Americas* The .38 Special is one of the most durable cartridges in history. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The heavier, more powerful .357 Magnum cartridge is actually a descendant of the .38 Special round. As a result, .38 Special ammunition is readily usable in .357 Magnums, though .357 is not usable-—and does not physically fit—in .38 Special revolvers. The .38 Special is one of the most durable cartridges in history. Introduced in 1898 as the .38 Smith & Wesson Special, it was meant to upgrade the U.S. Army’s firepower. The Army’s .38 Long Colt car... read more
WWII Was A Wild War, So Wild That the U.S. Secretly Gave Russia Warships to Invade Japan
*Sebastien Roblin* *World War II History, * This shocking piece of trivia has real-world implications that are still impacting life today. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Though Soviet military leaders briefly considered landing troops on the home island of Hokkaido, thirty LCIs would have proven inadequate for all but a token Soviet presence. Besides, some considered that a Soviet presence on the home islands had by then been ruled out at the Yalta Conference. However, the amphibious craft did enable the landing on the Kuril Islands, reshaping international boundaries. Japa... read more
Why North Korea Wishes It Had Israel’s Nuclear Weapons Arsenal
*Kyle Mizokami* *North Korea, * Israel does not confirm nor deny having nuclear weapons. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The establishment of a nuclear triad demonstrates how seriously Israel takes the idea of nuclear deterrence. The country will likely not declare itself a nuclear power any time soon; ambiguity over ownership of nukes has served the country very well. In a private email leaked to the public in September of 2016, former secretary of state and retired U.S. Army general Colin Powell alluded to Israel having an arsenal of “200 nuclear weapons.” While this number... read more
It Isn’t So Easy Leaving the Russian Military
*Michael Peck* *Russia, * The problems faced by Russian veterans would seem familiar to their American counterparts. *Here's What You Need To Remember:*Kalinichev can’t resist favorably contrasting the agonies that America’s Vietnam veterans faced when returning home in the 1970s: the Russian government has made some efforts, including assigning psychologists at regional centers to counsel veterans. But successful transforming soldiers into civilians requires effort. Even as Russian state-sponsored trolls target U.S. veterans in an attempt to sow dissension and distrust, it’s R... read more
China Has Lots of Tanks But This One Is a Standout
*Kyle Mizokami* *Tanks, * For a main battle tank, the Type 99 is light, maneuverable, and fast. It doesn't pack the firepower of the Abrams, but it has a much higher range with comparable armor. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *China’s top-of-the-line tank, the Type 99, has commanded healthy respect from international observers, even though it has never been exported, nor used in combat. China has a *lot* of tanks. Like, eight to nine *thousand* of them. Who *else* would bother to maintain such a ridiculous number? The United States. And Russia. (Note that *such counts* inclu... read more
"The Trick..."
“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” - Carlos Castaneda read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
In Today's Pentagon, It's All About The Medals
*WNU Editor:* Quoting* Richard Hanania* ....* Nice demonstration of credential inflation and stagnation. We have less competence, but more awards than ever.* read more
Your Sunday Open Thread
Your Beloved Blog Editrix Turns Things Over to You, the Readers. Proper Attire is Requested. Open Bar After 2pm. read more
"Are There Any Questions?"
*"Are There Any Questions?"* by Robert Fulghum "Are there any questions?" An offer that comes at the end of college lectures and long meetings. Said when an audience is not only overdosed with information, but when there is no time left anyhow. At times like that you sure do have questions. Like, "Can we leave now?" and "What the hell was this meeting for?" and "Where can I get a drink?" The gesture is supposed to indicate openness on the part of the speaker, I suppose, but if in fact you do ask a question, both the speaker and the audience will give you drop-dead looks. And some f... read more
"Why the Wheels Are Coming Off"
*"Why the Wheels Are Coming Off"* by Charles Hugh Smith "Why are the wheels coming off the American Project? Afghanistan is front and center in the news flow for obvious reasons, but since I have no expertise on that nation or America's role there, I am stipulating these are general comments from a systemic perspective. By the American Project I mean 1) global hegemony in both hard and soft power and 2) American Exceptionalism, the belief that America is not just uniquely strong but uniquely right in terms of holding the high moral ground. *1.* If you don't understand the problem,... read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
U.S. Will Not Launch Air Strikes In Support Of Anti-Taliban Fighters Who Are Continuing To Fight
a reporter asks Pentagon officials if the US is considering airstrikes in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/5hP3fIbJsm — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 21, 2021 *WNU Editor:* There are thousands of Americans trapped behind Taliban lines. The U.S. military is not going to conduct military operations until this "hostage" crisis has been resolved. Unfortunately, the Taliban know this. That is why I predict they are going to let this evacuation crisis continue as long as possible, and why they will make sure that hundreds, if not thousands of Americans are still trapped in Kabul on Septemb... read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
BBC Takes A Look At How Afghanistan's Media Is Changing Under Taliban Rule (Video)
*WNU Editor:* Here are some sobering numbers. 35 media outlets have stopped their operations, and over 6 media outlets have fallen to the Taliban. The two Afghan news websites that I follow are still online .... *Tolo News*, and *Khaama Press*. read more
Balkinization14 hours ago
The OLC and Section 3
A few days ago, Juan Williams wrote an op-ed in *The Hill *arguing that Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment bars Donald Trump from being elected President in 2024. Williams went on to say that Attorney General Garland should issue a legal opinion reaching that conclusion. I doubt that the Attorney General is keen to wade into this matter now (either directly or by asking the OLC to do so). There is, however, precedent for such an opinion. In 1885, President Grover Cleveland sought an opinion from his Attorney General about whether an ex-Confederate that he considering for an am... read more
Organizing Notes16 hours ago
Film classics: JFK bits on the cutting room floor
These deleted scenes & extended parts are not in the theatrical or director's cut of the JFK assassination film. Director Oliver Stone narrates as he shows the scenes that landed on the cutting room floor. A priceless video. read more
The Rio Times14 hours ago
Covid-19: Guayaquil, Ecuador’s pandemic epicenter, has not had hospitalized patients for two days
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - During the most critical months of the pandemic in 2020, Guayaquil was referred to as "the Wuhan of Ecuador. In this city, the second-most populous in the country, citizens died of covid-19 even in the streets, the health system collapsed, and even hundreds of corpses of patients infected with the […] The post Covid-19: Guayaquil, Ecuador’s pandemic epicenter, has not had hospitalized patients for two days appeared first on The Rio Times. read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
Tweets Of The Day
Covid-19 has killed over 4.4M people and infected over 211.9M globally. Follow this thread for all the coronavirus-related developments for August 22: pic.twitter.com/BKnjYG37eC — TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 22, 2021 Thousands protest against Melbourne's lockdown restrictions – video https://t.co/H4fUcJlCud — The Guardian (@guardian) August 22, 2021 #BREAKING G7 leaders to discuss Afghanistan crisis on Tuesday: UK PM Johnson pic.twitter.com/jJr2D8d4a7 — AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 22, 2021 Kamala Harris to visit Vietnam amid Afghanistan chaos, comparisons to fall of Saig... read more
War News Updates14 hours ago
Tweets On Afghanistan
#Afghanistan: #Taliban commander Abdul Hamid Hamasi inspects captured #US made armored vehicles in #Kabul pic.twitter.com/uXajS4sbwP — Indo-Pacific News - Watching the CCP-China Threat (@IndoPac_Info) August 21, 2021 Intel: taliban have sent massive battalion from kunduz to recapture Baghlan. Although they are superior in number/artillery we’ll fight to the last man & make a stand here. If I die, then I die as a free man & not a slave of pakistan Might be my last tweet Allhumdulilah الحمد لله pic.twitter.com/cFPApfoPLy — Wazir Akbar Mohmand (@AkbarMohmand2) August 21, 2021 80%-90%... read more
Citizens and Police Now Safer as Cops Told to Stop Pulling People Over for Victimless Crimes
[image: TRAFFIC]Minneapolis has directed police to stop pulling people over for victimless traffic offenses like air fresheners, creating a safer environment for both cops and citizens. read more
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Jesse Jackson and Wife Hospitalized with Covid Can you mix and match vaccines? The Post answered your questions on coronavirus booster shots. Exclusive: FBI finds scant evidence U.S. Capitol attack was coordinated - sources - Reuters The multi-billion dollar giants that are melting away The Taliban may pretend to show moderation – but the murderous reality is far different CIA Won't Back an Afghan Resistance Anytime Soon, If Ever Phew. U.S. review of possible link between Moderna vaccine and uncommon side effect delays adolescent approval Orlando urges residents to li... read more
War News Updates15 hours ago
Picture Of The Day
Evacuee children wait for the next flight after being manifested at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 19, 2021. 1stLt. Mark Andries/U.S. Marine Corps/Handout via REUTERS *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery ....* Escaping the Taliban: Evacuees flee Afghanistan* (Reuters). read more
Beltway and Democrat followers of WaPo and Biden
The ignorance and banality I read in the Washington Post comments about Afghanistan and what Biden has done makes me fear for our country. I get the feed on Facebook and see the responses. Let's review. 1) Trump had a plan. . .wasn't great, but no one since 2003 had a better one. It was to bring the Taliban to the table and THEN withdraw leaving no military treasure, no Americans and no allies behind. Trump knew Taliban couldn't be trusted to keep the agreement and also committed to blow them to smithereens if they defaulted. 2) Biden did the opposite claiming it was all Trump's... read more
Korean Missile Developers are Turning to Their Past for Inspiration
*Sebastien Roblin* *Missile, Asia* Forget Kim Jong-un this inspiration comes from the 14th century. *Here's What You Need to Remember: *Three hundred years after the Imjin wars, Korean “fire arrows” proved ineffective in battle against a grounded American ironclad. Today, both Pyongyang and Seoul are again investing in advanced missile technology in the hopes it will deter foreign attack. In the late 14th century, Korea’s ruling Joseon dynasty began an all-out espionage campaign to acquire classified missile technology from neighboring China. At the time, stateless wokou “dwarf ... read more
Imagine This: What If China Invaded North Korea?
*Kyle Mizokami* *China, Asia* North Korea is both a blessing and a curse for China. *Here's What You Need To Remember:* While North Korea has traditionally been a Chinese client state, ties between the two countries have deteriorated in recent years. Pyongyang’s fiery anti-American rhetoric and nuclear weapons program have provoked the United States, making North Korea a major point of contention between Washington and Beijing. Amid the near-constant threat of a crisis breaking out on the Korean Peninsula, one major power is often left out of the discussion: China. The People’s ... read more
Typhoon: Why The Akula Submarine Was Known As Russia’s “Shark”
*Kyle Mizokami* *Submarines, * The largest submarines ever built were not built in American shipyards, but Soviet ones. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The existence of the Akula-class was not widely known and probably would not ever have been but for the novel *The Hunt for Red October*. The largest submarines ever built were not built in American shipyards, but Soviet ones. Named after sharks, these Cold War leviathans could devastate up to two hundred targets with warheads six times as powerful as those that exploded over Hiroshima. The Akula-class submarines were some of... read more
The Queen of Her Day: The Proud History of the USS Mississippi Battleship
*Kyle Mizokami* *U.S. Military, Global* Alas, in the end, she was decommissioned and sold for scrap. A sad ending for a storied ship. *Here's What You Need To Remember: **Mississippi* was a heavily armed battleship by the standards of the day. She was armed with a main battery of twelve 14-inch/50 caliber guns mounted in four turrets of three guns each, with each gun mounted in a separate sleeve. The main battery was distributed two turrets forward and two aft. She also featured twelve 5-inch/51 caliber guns, eight 3-inch anti-aircraft guns and two submerged 21-inch torpedo tube... read more
Fact: America was a Great Power Long Before Winning World War II
*Kyle Mizokami* *Spanish-American War, Americas* The end of the Second World War is often considered the defining moment when the United States became a global power. In fact, it was another war forty years earlier. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The Spanish-American War made the United States a global power. The defeat of a continental European power, Spain, was a major military accomplishment. The handing over of Guam and Philippines would have greater repercussions down the road, as placed the United States on a collision course with another rising, expansionist country:... read more
Need a Simple Weapon for Self-Defense: Look No Further Than the Kel-Tec's PF9
*Kyle Mizokami* *Guns, * Lightweight and lethal. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The PF9 lacks a manual safety, meaning there is no user-enabled mechanism that prevents the trigger from being pulled and the gun from consequently going off. As a pistol aimed at concealed carriers and self-defense, this is generally considered a feature but also merits extra care in storage and handling. Many people want a simple, compact weapon self-protection but are put off by the retail price of today’s firearms. Affordability is perhaps the least discussed feature of many handguns but on... read more
musingsofanoldfart15 hours ago
That boy sure is a runnin’ fool
Those familiar with the movie “Forrest Gump” know the title is one of the many one-liners from the movie. We learn early on that Forrest could “run like the wind blows” after his legs got better from wearing braces. And, … Continue reading → read more

No comments:

Post a Comment