James48
James48's JournalElon Musk says around 100 Starlinks now active in Iran
Elon Musk says around 100 Starlinks now active in IranDec 26 (Reuters) - SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Monday that the company is now close to having 100 active Starlinks, the firm's satellite internet service, in Iran, three months after he tweeted he would activate the service there amid protests around the Islamic country.
Musk said, "approaching 100 starlinks active in Iran", in a tweet on Monday.
The billionaire had said in September that he would activate Starlink in Iran as part of a U.S.-backed effort "to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information" to Iranians.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-around-100-starlinks-now-active-iran-2022-12-26/?fbclid=IwAR0_hP6fndEOIJYfgF1y3qa_Il3vDy6MOsZpxflOsqdA7DFxGZ9HOr1PE2k
This is significant, if they start getting lots of STARLINK terminals inside Iran.
New Basic Needs Allowance for Military Families Begins in 2023
(This is a brand new, additional stipend for military families. It’s an allowance to bring their pay up to 130% of poverty level.)
New Basic Needs Allowance for Military Families Begins in 2023
From https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/basic-needs-allowance-military-families.html/amp
The military has announced a new Basic Needs Allowance for military families that will begin on Jan. 1, 2023.
What Is the Basic Needs Allowance?
The new allowance was announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a Sept. 22, 2022 memo. It is designed to assist military families who are struggling financially in the current economic situation.
The Basic Needs Allowance, or BNA, will only be available to military members stationed in the U.S. who have dependents and whose gross household income is below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines.
More:
https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/basic-needs-allowance-military-families.html/amp
Minimum Wage/ Tipped employees
The Michigan Appeals Court case had arguments today.
Unless overturned, the tipped minimum wage increase and the sick leave provisions would go into affect in a few months. (February) .
From tomorrow’s Detroit Free Press:
“ A panel of Court of Appeals judges in Detroit heard arguments over a July court ruling that would see Michigan’s minimum wage rise to $13.03 an hour and raise the tipped minimum wage to $11.73 an hour starting in mid-February.
At issue is whether the Michigan Legislature has the constitutional authority to adopt petition initiatives as law and amend the initiatives in the same legislative session.
Court of Claims Judge Douglas Shapiro previously ruled the Michigan Legislature acted unconstitutionally in 2018 when it adopted legislation created through a petition initiative originally intended to enact the wage changes, but in the same session amended the language to put in lower wage thresholds that increased the minimum wage to $12.05 by 2030 instead of 2022 and kept the tipped minimum wage at 38% of the standard one. The tipped minimum wage is the pay rate given to employees who are expected to make the bulk of their earnings through tips, like restaurant servers and bartenders.”
More:
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2022/12/13/michigan-minimum-wage-sick-time-law/69720116007/
The new NDAA bill is 4,408 pages long.
I found the new NDAA final bill-
Believe it or not- this bill contains authority
TO PROMOTE General Ulysses S. Grant to be a Five-Star general.
Really??
Yup!!!
“Sec. 583. Posthumous appointment of Ulysses S. Grant to grade of General of the Armies of the United States. “
I kid you not!!
It is 4,408 pages long, and promotes Grant!
https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-117HR7776EAS-RCP117-70.pdf
Portugal, Spain or France??
I’m thinking if taking a month next spring and do either:
Portugal, (Likely Faro area) , or Barcelona suburbs near the ocean, or Southeast France- (Perpignan?) .
Anyone familiar with these areas, would you make sone recommendations? I like history, architecture, art, military, and good food. Do you have good tips?
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Who Wielded Zip Ties on Floor of Congress Found Guilty for Jan. 6 Breach
Source: Military.com
A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel was found guilty Wednesday on six charges -- including one felony for obstructing an official proceeding -- related to breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and attempting to interrupt the electoral certification of President Joe Biden.
Larry Brock, 55, entered the Senate chambers on the afternoon of Jan. 6 brandishing zip ties and wearing tactical gear; his plate carrier bore a skull patch with the Texas flag imposed into the design, indicating his home state.
(Snip)
Brock will be sentenced in mid-February and faces a maximum 20 years in prison for his felony obstruction count. His five other charges are misdemeanors and range from disorderly conduct in the Capitol to entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; combined, they carry a maximum three and a half years in jail.
Read more: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/11/16/retired-air-force-lt-col-who-wielded-zip-ties-floor-of-congress-found-guilty-jan-6-breach.html
This is the “Zip Tie Guy”- and was convicted on six counts, including a felony count worth up to 20 years.
The US military is scrambling to build more ammo for itself and for Ukraine, but old Army paperwork
The US military is scrambling to build more ammo for itself and for Ukraine, but old Army paperwork could get in the way
The US Army's process for producing ammunition faces "challenges," a government watchdog says.
Problems with disorganization and bureaucracy may hamper that production, the GAO said in a report.
The issues come to light as the Pentagon is scrambling to ramp up its production of munitions.
Disorganization and bureaucracy could hamper the US military's production of ammunition, according to a new report from a government watchdog.
This could spell trouble as US arms shipments to Ukraine have depleted American military stockpiles and sent the Pentagon scrambling to ramp up production of artillery shells and other munitions.
"The Army faces challenges in managing the procurement and production of conventional ammunition," the Government Accountability Office warned in a study published in October.
US military ammunition production — including of bullets, howitzer and mortar shells, and small rockets — is overseen by the Army.
More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/administrative-problems-may-hinder-us-military-ammunition-production-2022-11
This is a good article describing some of the major concerns about our ability to produce ammunition as we send our reserves to Ukraine. This is an important example of our current inability to scale up right now, and the danger that poses going forward.
Biden calls 'emergency' meeting after missile hits Poland
Source: Associated Press
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) -- President Joe Biden convened an "emergency" meeting of the Group of Seven and NATO leaders in Indonesia Wednesday morning for consultations after NATO-ally Poland said a "Russian-made" missile killed two people in the eastern part of its country near the Ukraine border.
Biden, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile explosion while in Indonesia for the Group of 20 summit, called Polish President Andrzej Duda early Wednesday to express his "deep condolences" for the loss of life. Biden promised on Twitter "full U.S support for and assistance with Poland's investigation," and "reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to NATO."
(Snip)
A statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry identified the missile as being made in Russia. But Poland's president, Duda, was more cautious about its origin, saying that officials did not know for sure who fired it or where it was made. He said it was "most probably" Russian-made, but that is being still verified. If confirmed, it would be the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that a Russian weapon came down on a NATO country.
The foundation of the NATO alliance is the principle that an attack against one member is an attack on all.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/g-20-summit-nato-biden-andrzej-duda-25e615909ba0d871d5092f5b3aec21c8
Russian missile kills two in Poland
Russia says it wasn’t them.
Planes collide during air show at Dallas Executive Airport
Source: Dallas Morning News
Officials were responding to reports of a midair collision that occurred during the Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Dallas show Saturday afternoon.
Jason Evans, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman, said two planes collided about 1:30 p.m. at Dallas Executive Airport in the 5300 block of Challenger Drive, near U.S. Highway 67 in Red Bird. According to WFAA-TV (Channel 8), the crash involved a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
Evans said about 2 p.m. that he did not know the status of the pilots, or whether any injuries were reported among people on the ground.
In a video shared on social media, the B-17 was seen hitting a smaller plane as it made a turn. The front of the B-17 broke off, and the plane's wings erupted into flames as they hit the ground. An onlooker said "Oh my god!" in Spanish, and a large cloud of black smoke could be seen from the field where dozens of people were standing to watch the show overhead. The CAF's Air Power History Tour.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2022/11/12/plane-crash-reported-during-air-show-at-dallas-executive-airport/?outputType=amp
DU for Senator Warnock
I know a lot of folks are still watching the count from Tuesday- but here is your reminder that one candidate now faces HIS FOURTH US Senate election in four years. He can use all the help we can muster.
Here is the link to DU for Warnock ActBlue site:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/duforwarnock
I gave a little. You can too.
Let’s boost him up!
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