May 21, 2020

These are the people that are going to get most of us killed.

Moldova's Orthodox Church Lashes Out At 'Anti-Christ Plot' To Develop Virus Vaccine

The Moscow-affiliated Moldovan Orthodox Church has called on the country's leadership to ensure that a potential future anti-coronavirus vaccine will not be made compulsory, claiming conspiracy by a "world anti-Christ system" that will allegedly insert microchips into humans to control them via 5G technology.

snip

Some of the theories promoting false claims that billionaire U.S. philanthropist Bill Gates is the alleged mastermind behind the pandemic have been gaining traction online since the beginning of the outbreak, with experts warning they could hamper efforts to curb the virus.

Such accusations are also present in the Moldovan church's statement, which says that "Bill Gates is considered the man responsible for the creation of a technology allowing people to be microchipped through a vaccine that would insert in their bodies nanoparticles that interact with 5G waves and allow people to be remotely controlled."

snip

Hungarian-American billionaire and philanthropist George Soros has also been blamed for creating the virus, which has infected almost 5 million people and killed more than 323,000 around the world.


https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-s-orthodox-church-lashes-out-at-anti-christ-plot-to-develop-virus-vaccine/30624250.html

They, the anti-vaxers, the conspiracy theorists, etc get a foothold and find enough adherents.

May 18, 2020

Pre-Soviet Uzbekistan Captured In Perfect Color (11 pics)

I found this group of photos hard to choose from. So, I posted most of them.

https://www.rferl.org/a/pre-soviet-uzbekistan-in-perfect-color-photos/30608080.html


Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky (second from left) waiting in vain for a break in the clouds to observe a solar eclipse from Central Asia’s Tien-Shan mountains on January 1, 1907.

Several years before he was famously commissioned by the tsar to photograph the Russian Empire in color, chemist Prokudin-Gorsky set off on an expedition to what is now Uzbekistan to observe a solar eclipse.


A carpenter strips bark from fresh timber on a back road in Samarkand.


An Islamic shrine stands inside the Bahoutdin Architectural Complex on the outskirts of Bukhara. The heavily-restored shrine still stands


A man pauses a moment from grilling meat over hot coals at a restaurant in Samarkand.


A view over central Samarkand from Registan Square


Men sell medicinal products in Samarkand.


A bureaucrat stands outside the emir's palace in Bukhara.


It’s unclear when the more than 200 photos Prokudin-Gorsky shot in Central Asia were taken, but photos like this -- of Bukhara's interior minister with a ceremonial sword, which required access to government buildings -- were probably made during the 1911 expeditions, when the photographer had a letter of recommendation from the tsar.


Two shackled prisoners from Bukhara’s notorious dungeon

The photo was taken just a few meters from the "bug pit" where two British officers were tortured before eventually being beheaded in 1842 by the emir of Bukhara.


Men are held in the "debtors prison" inside the Bukhara dungeon.

Bukharans who owed either taxes to the government or money to other people were held in the prison but allowed out to work until they had repaid their debts.


A building inside the emir's palace in Bukhara

May 11, 2020

Five Stories from Europe You May Have Missed

1. Belarus Pushes Aside COVID-19 Fears To Hold Victory Day Parade

Thousands of people jammed the center of the Belarusian capital to watch soldiers and military units march as part of celebrations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, celebrations that took place despite serious concerns about the coronavirus.

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who brushed aside warnings from the World Health Organization and criticism from many Belarusian political figures, made passing reference to the coronavirus in his public address during the May 9 events.

“Belarus celebrates this significant date at a difficult time," he said. "However, our current difficulties are dimmed by the hardships and losses that befell the heroic generation that saved the world from the brown plague” -- a reference to the Nazis.

Victory Day has long been a major secular holiday in Belarus, as in Russia and some other former Soviet republics. Fading memories, however, have changed the way the war's end is marked from country to country. Ill will among Russia's neighbors following Moscow's interference in Ukraine in 2014 has also changed how countries mark the day.

https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-pushes-aside-covid-19-fears-to-hold-victory-day-parade/30602550.html

2. Poland's top politician defends policy after election crisis

The leader of Poland’s ruling coalition has defended the government amid questions of how it plans to handle a political crisis over the country's postponed presidential election, according to excerpts of an interview published Sunday.

The election set to take place Sunday was suspended following debate over how and when voting could be done safely during the coronavirus pandemic. The government had proposed an all-postal vote, but criticism of the plan and infighting complicated preparations and led to the postponement announced late Wednesday.

In excerpts from an interview with a weekly newspaper, Law and Justice party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said Poland was “changing for the better” under the coalition government led by his party and two smaller parties. At the same time, Kaczynski said it was no secret the coalition was divided.

snip

One of the junior parties in the coalition wanted the election delayed and warned last week that it would vote against the legislation authorizing the postal vote. Under pressure, the ruling coalition said the election would be declared void and new date set.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/10/poland-s-top-politician-defends-policy-after-election-crisis


3. Viktor Orban provokes neighbours with historical map of Hungary

Viktor Orbán has generated fresh controversy by posting a historical map of 'Greater Hungary' on Facebook.

Hungary's prime minister posted his support for students taking their examinations on Wednesday, accompanying the message with an image of Hungary's former territory before the end of the First World War.

This historical territory included large parts of modern Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Slovakia – which were all lost under the Treaty of Trianon of 1920 following the collapse of the joint Austro-Hungarian state.

snip

Romania remains home to a large ethnic Hungarian community, but on Wednesday, the country's parliament rejected an initiative to declare the Hungarian language official in Transylvania.

The decision had generated an angry response from the Democratic Union of the Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), who are closely related to Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/08/viktor-orban-provokes-neighbours-with-historical-map-of-hungary-thecube


4. Coronavirus: Three bears kept in cages for tourism rescued after Covid-19 shuts business

Three bears that were being kept in cages as a tourist spectacle at a restaurant have been rescued after coronavirus forced the business to close.

The owner of the restaurant, in Armenia, said he no longer had any use for the animals and could not afford to feed them.

The mother bear and her two five-year-old sons are part of a series of rescue missions of wild bears held captive for “entertainment” in the country, after a government crackdown.

It is not uncommon to see bears in cages at restaurants or shopping centres in Armenia. They are often caught as cubs and spend their lives in captivity to attract tourists.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/bears-armenia-coronavirus-cage-animal-rescue-saved-covid19-restaurant-a9506211.html


5. Armenian Parliamentarians Exchange Blows After Coronavirus Aid Criticism
YEREVAN -- Armenian parliamentarians from opposing parties exchanged blows amid a disagreement over the government’s economic response to the coronavirus crisis.

During a debate on May 8, Edmon Marukian, the leader of the Bright Armenia opposition faction, accused the ruling My Step faction loyal to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of failing to help ordinary citizens amid the economic shutdown.

The opposition has called for larger cash payments to citizens.

Marukian's criticism triggered angry remarks from My Step lawmakers, including Sasun Mikaelian. Displeased by what he heard, Marukian stepped down from the podium midway through his speech and approached Mikaelian, who stood up from this seat. The two threw punches at each other before it was broken up by other members of parliament.

https://www.rferl.org/a/armenian-parliamentarians-exchange-blows-after-coronavirus-aid-criticism/30601694.html

April 27, 2020

I never in my wildest imaginings ever thought I would say/think this

Please do not die or resign Clarence Thomas (at least until February 2021)

April 27, 2020

I will consider the position of those who say don't vote Biden. But I require a few things

1. You have to prove that AJ RBG will not have to leave the bench (either as the result of death or some illness)
2. You have to prove that AJ Thomas will not resign or die
3. You have to be able to prove that il douce will not continue to place wholly unqualified hacks onto the bench
4. You have to prove that he won't continue damaging the environment
5. You have to prove that he won't keep marginalizing the LGBT community
6. You have to prove that he will get rid of the worst Attorney General in U.S. history
7. You have to prove that il douche-bag will act presidential
8. You have to prove the he'll stop spending huge amounts of tax dollars enriching himself, his family and his friends
9. You have to prove that he'll stop undermining the medical community
10. You have to prove that he'll listen to the advice of people who actually know what they're talking about
11. You have to prove he will stop acting like an insane, narcissistic, petulant, obnoxious, psychotic three year old.
12. You have to prove he'll stop eroding women's rights
13. You'll have to prove he will stop making excuses for racists and other bigots
14. You have to prove he'll stop listening to people like Falwell, Jeffries and Graham
15. You have to prove he'll stop watching TV and actually work
16. You have to prove he'll read the daily briefings, instead of winging it
17. You have to prove he'll stop picking fights with our allies/strategic partners
18. You have to prove he'll actually take responsibility for his mistakes
19. You have to prove he'll stop lying
20. You have to prove he'll stop taking advice from Hannity, Dobbs and the couch sitters.

If you can prove to me that these few things will happen (all of them, not some), then we can talk

April 25, 2020

Largest-ever hole in the ozone layer above Arctic finally closes

The largest hole ever observed in the ozone layer over the Arctic has closed, says Copernicus' Atmospheric Monitoring Service.

Scientists spotted signs in late March of a rare hole forming and it was thought to be the result of low temperatures at the north pole.

The ozone layer shields the Earth from most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, which is a major cause of skin cancer.

The record-breaking hole would only have posed a direct threat to humans if it had of moved further south to populated areas.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/24/largest-ever-hole-in-the-ozone-layer-above-arctic-finally-closes

Interesting read. The article makes it clear this has to do with the polar vortex and not anything related to Covid

April 25, 2020

5 Stories from Europe You May Have Missed

1. Czechs See Signs Of Russian Role In Cyberattacks As Tensions Seethe

A recent wave of coordinated cyberattacks in the Czech Republic is likely tied to malware linked to Russia, Czech Internet security experts say.

Earlier this month, Czech officials said information-technology (IT) systems at Prague's international airport, several hospitals, and the Health Ministry were targeted in the attacks, which sparked outrage in Prague -- and Washington, as well.

On April 22, the Czech Interior Ministry said its IT systems were also targeted in the attacks, all of which were thwarted and were preceded by warnings from the country's cybersecurity watchdog of expected cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

snip

"It's impossible to pinpoint where the attacks originated, but the tool MBR Locker, with which it was created, is in the Russian language. So are the instructions for using it, and they can be found on forums used by Russian hackers," Dvorak said in comments sent to RFE/RL.

He added that the digital trail also led to IP addresses in China.


https://www.rferl.org/a/czechs-see-signs-of-russian-role-in-cyberattacks-as-tensions-remain-high/30574658.html


2. Ukraine’s Job Offer To Saakashvili Angers Georgia

TBILISI/KYIV -- The government of Georgia, led by former President Mikheil Saakashvili's longtime foes, has voiced objection to his possible appointment to the post of deputy prime minister of Ukraine, saying such a move would negatively affect relations between the two countries.​
​
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said in Tbilisi on April 24 that it was "absolutely unacceptable" for Ukraine to appoint to a top post a person who has been convicted in his native Georgia and is wanted on charges of abuse of power.​

snip

In Kyiv, Ukrainian lawmakers representing the ruling Servant of the People party said they were divided over the government's proposal to give Saakashvili the post of deputy prime minister in charge of reforms.​
​
Saakashvili, whose appointment needs to be approved by parliament, told reporters that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had asked him to conduct talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).​

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-job-offer-to-saakashvili-angers-georgia/30575149.html


3. Michel Barnier: 'UK cannot refuse Brexit transition extension and slow down talks at the same time'

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has accused the UK of dragging its feet over post-Brexit negotiations, at the end of the second round of talks on the future relationship.

He described this week's talks, which resumed this week by videoconference after a six-week standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, as "disappointing" -- adding that no progress had been made in key areas.

The UK had failed to engage or provide texts on crucial topics such as fishing, Barnier said. Yet "more than ever, the clock is ticking," he added, ahead of crucial deadlines this year.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/24/watch-live-eu-negotiator-michel-barnier-gives-update-on-post-brexit-talks-with-uk


4. Lenin At 150: Even Without COVID-19, Russia Was Set To Snub The Soviet Union's Founder

When the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Lenin’s birth rolled around in 1970, the Soviet Union pulled out all the stops to mark the occasion. Commemorative stamps were printed; coins were minted; medals were struck. A vast new wing was opened at the Lenin museum in Ulyanovsk, the Volga River city where he was born and raised. In Kurgan Oblast, a vast grove of trees was planted to spell out “Lenin 100,” a living monument that can be seen from space 50 years later.

The country, and the entire Soviet bloc for that matter, capped off two years of preparations with a Communist Party meeting in the Kremlin addressed by General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Nikolai Podgorny opened the event by saying: “What Lenin did during his spectacular life is not something for 100 years, but for the ages, for millennia.”

Yet on Lenin’s sesquicentennial, April 22, the country he created no longer exists and its successor state -- Russia -- seems decidedly uninterested in marking 150 years since his birth. Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, only the most diehard Communists remaining in Russia seemed even to have noticed the anniversary. By contrast with the past, the silence seems deafening.

In Russia today, under President Vladimir Putin, Lenin’s memory is caught between what analysts say are two primary ideological currents of the ruling elite: the lionization of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin -- whom Lenin described as “too coarse” in his final political testament, urging Stalin’s removal as general secretary -- and nostalgia for Russia’s pre-Soviet tsarist past, which Lenin despised and sought to destroy.

https://www.rferl.org/a/lenin-at-150-even-without-covid-19-russia-was-set-to-snub-the-soviet-union-s-founder/30568383.html


5. Sweden queries basis of lockdowns as Germany keeps its guard up

Sweden questioned the scientific basis of other EU countries’ strict coronavirus lockdowns as Germany said its number of cases needed to fall from about 2,000 to a few hundred a day before it could ease restrictions further.

As several European countries continued to cautiously lift lockdowns, sending children back to school and reopening some shops and businesses, Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, said their original measures looked difficult to justify.

Sweden has favoured civic responsibility over mandatory rules, closing senior high schools and banning gatherings of more than 50 people, but asking rather than ordering people to avoid non-essential travel, work from home and stay indoors if they are over 70 or feeling ill. Shops, restaurants and junior schools have stayed open.

Polls show many Swedes support the policy, although the interior minister, Mikael Damberg, and the mayor of Stockholm, Anna König Jerlmyr, urged people not to relax as the weather turned warmer, warning that bars and restaurants that did not follow physical distancing recommendations risked being shut down.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/sweden-queries-basis-of-lockdowns-as-germany-keeps-its-guard-up

April 24, 2020

Pro-China Kiribati president loses majority over switch from Taiwan

China’s diplomatic ambitions in the Pacific suffered a setback on Wednesday when the party that switched recognition from Taiwan to China last year lost its majority in parliament over its handling of the move.

In the second round of parliamentary elections, the governing party and allies won 22 seats out of 45, dealing a blow to President Taneti Maamau, who previously enjoyed a comfortable majority of 31.

The rest of the seats were won by members or allies of two other parties: one of which has pledged to switch back to Taiwan, and another made up of MPs who left the governing party to create a new opposition party last fall over Maamau’s handling of the switch.

snip

Kiribati is thought to be of interest partly due to its location – some islands are just 700 km from US military installations – and also due to Christmas Island, the world’s biggest atoll with a land mass of nearly 400 sq km. It lies just 2,150 km from Honolulu, home of the US Pacific Command and is far to the east of existing port facilities available to the Chinese navy.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/pro-china-kiribati-president-loses-majority-over-switch-from-taiwan

April 24, 2020

Top 9 Reasons for People Who Didn't Support Biden to vote Biden

****I am one of those people who really did not support Biden in the Primaries. I have (among my circle) found that one or more of these 9 do bring them around (or very close). Bringing up Russia and Putin does not sway them. The situation in the Ukraine has zero effect. I want them to definitely vote and insulting them does not help the situation. They are attainable. Why throw that chance away? I have found engaging people to be far more effective.***

9. Trump is leaving us with almost no friends -- unless they're despotic, authoritarian, obnoxious dictators. The guy in the PDK, the lunatic in Brazil, his administrations support of the Afd in Germany. He has chosen fights with our allies in the EU, with trading partners, like Canada and key strategic partners like Japan and South Korea. They abandoned the Kurds.

8. Watching Sean Hannity in total melt down. It would be like Christmas morning. But, instead of unwrapping presents under the tree, you could turn on faux spews and watch Hannity sputter and whine and cry. Make me believe in Santa again.

7. The Chaos. This maladministration thrives on creating chaos. In their defense, it's the only way they have to keep people from looking at their criminal behavior. Just in the last week alone he has hawked three game changing cures for Covid without any regard for the dangers they present.

6. The Environment. Do you really believe that Biden would open up National Parks to oil and mineral companies?

5. The Cronyism. Has there ever been any administration that has shamelessly gorged at the public trough? I wouldn't be surprised to find out that a 30th cousin 11 times removed was getting perks from the government.

4. He has done things that undermine the chain of command in the U.S. military. The pardons he granted to those two completely undermines military justice and the authority of the commanders.

3. The Incompetence. Along with chaos, this administration is incompetent. Trump lies because that's all he has. The Covid-19 would be incredibly difficult for any administration, no matter who was president. But, this administration makes situations worse because it cannot admit it isn't perfectly capable of everything and it throws out quick fixes. Take the anti-malarial drug. Deprive people with lupus of their necessary medication. Now it's heat lamps and injecting Clorox.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Bret Kavanaugh. RBG will not live forever and she likely will not survive another four years. Do you really want 30 years of a Kavanaugh clone or Alito clone on the bench? I would also point out that Breyer and Thomas are not youngsters either. There could be three openings on the bench in the next four years. Losing two to the evil clownishness of Trump and a shot at filling Thomas' seat is insanity.

1.Trump's behavior after impeachment. After the senate failed to convict him, Trump went off the rails. What do you honestly think he is going to be like should he get re-elected? There is no, nada, zip realistic scenario where Trump acts even remotely presidential and with even a smidgen of humility. None!

Don't vote for Biden. Vote against trump by choosing the person best positioned to beat him. If that turns out to be the nominee of the Communist Peace Love Chainsaw Juggling and Stalin Party, vote for him or her. But reality says the only person that has a shot is the nominee of the other major political party. Go all out to get a new political party elected president 4 years from now.

As my late mother would say, "This hill isn't worth dying on."

April 24, 2020

Supergenius. The animal equivalent of Donald J Trump

Wile E Coyote Super Genius
He sounds like trump and is as successful

Coyote trump
Bugs Nancy