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Celerity
Celerity's Journal
Celerity's Journal
April 14, 2019
Jonathan Pie - Trump's Planet
April 11, 2019
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8840439/julian-assange-rape-accuser-demands-swedish-prosecutors-reopen-sex-crimes-case-against-wikileaks-chief/
ONE of Julian Assange's rape accusers has today demanded Swedish prosecutors re-open the sex assault case against him. Sweden dropped the charges in 2017 against the Wikileaks founder who was this morning arrested in London after being dragged out of exile from the Ecuadorian embassy.
The lawyer of one of the accusers said she hopes the Swedish preliminary investigation against Assange will resume.
Elisabeth Massi Fritz said: "My client and I have just received the news that Assange has been arrested.
“That what we have been waiting for and hoping for almost seven years now, of course, comes as a shock to my client.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that the prosecutors resume the Swedish preliminary investigation so that Assange can be extradited to Sweden and prosecuted for rape.”
In August 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Assange for two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation - after he visited Sweden.
snip
Julian Assange rape accuser demands Swedish prosecutors reopen sex crimes case
Sweden dropped the charges in 2017 against the Wikileaks founder who was this morning arrested in London after being dragged out of exile from the Ecuadorian embassyhttps://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8840439/julian-assange-rape-accuser-demands-swedish-prosecutors-reopen-sex-crimes-case-against-wikileaks-chief/
ONE of Julian Assange's rape accusers has today demanded Swedish prosecutors re-open the sex assault case against him. Sweden dropped the charges in 2017 against the Wikileaks founder who was this morning arrested in London after being dragged out of exile from the Ecuadorian embassy.
The lawyer of one of the accusers said she hopes the Swedish preliminary investigation against Assange will resume.
Elisabeth Massi Fritz said: "My client and I have just received the news that Assange has been arrested.
“That what we have been waiting for and hoping for almost seven years now, of course, comes as a shock to my client.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that the prosecutors resume the Swedish preliminary investigation so that Assange can be extradited to Sweden and prosecuted for rape.”
In August 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Assange for two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation - after he visited Sweden.
snip
April 10, 2019
Scientists have finally captured the first direct image of a supermassive black hole.
The highly anticipated cosmic portrait belongs to the black hole at the center of Messier 87, the largest galaxy we know of, about 54 million light-years away.
The new image comes from the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of 10 radio telescopes spread across the planet and functioning as if it were a single receiver, one tuned to high-frequency radio waves. The image revealed Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington and in news conferences in six other cities across the globe shows the dark silhouette of the black hole against the hot, glowing material that surrounds it.
You’re basically looking at a supermassive black hole that’s almost the size of our solar system,” or 38 billion kilometers in diameter, said Sera Markoff, an astrophysicist at the University of Amsterdam.
The image shows the boundary between light and dark around a black hole, called the event horizon — the point of no return, where the gravity of the black hole becomes so extreme that nothing that enters can ever escape. At the center of the black hole, time and space become so curved upon themselves that the laws of physics break down completely.
snip
See a black hole for the first time in a historic image from the Event Horizon Telescope
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/04/10/see-black-hole-first-time-images-event-horizon-telescopeScientists have finally captured the first direct image of a supermassive black hole.
The highly anticipated cosmic portrait belongs to the black hole at the center of Messier 87, the largest galaxy we know of, about 54 million light-years away.
The new image comes from the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of 10 radio telescopes spread across the planet and functioning as if it were a single receiver, one tuned to high-frequency radio waves. The image revealed Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington and in news conferences in six other cities across the globe shows the dark silhouette of the black hole against the hot, glowing material that surrounds it.
You’re basically looking at a supermassive black hole that’s almost the size of our solar system,” or 38 billion kilometers in diameter, said Sera Markoff, an astrophysicist at the University of Amsterdam.
The image shows the boundary between light and dark around a black hole, called the event horizon — the point of no return, where the gravity of the black hole becomes so extreme that nothing that enters can ever escape. At the center of the black hole, time and space become so curved upon themselves that the laws of physics break down completely.
snip
April 10, 2019
https://www.vox.com/world/2019/4/10/18302233/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-2019
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to hold on to power, winning what will be a record fifth term in office despite having faced a bruising reelection fight. The preliminary results from Israel’s Tuesday election have Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party getting 35 seats out of a total 120 seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). While Likud didn’t win an outright majority of seats, that’s typical in Israeli elections.
Party leaders generally become prime ministers by cobbling together a parliamentary majority with the help of smaller parties. In this case, a group of smaller right-wing parties expected to back Netanyahu seems to have captured 65 seats, enough to give him a 10 seat majority over the rival center-left bloc (the exact numbers could change as the remaining two percent of votes are tallied).
Netanyahu is now set to be the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history — even longer than David Ben-Gurion, the country’s first prime minister often described as “Israel’s George Washington.” And the ramifications of his fifth term could be enormous, both for the health of Israeli democracy and the fate of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The prime minister is facing a pending criminal indictment on bribery and fraud charges by Israel’s attorney general that’s likely to come down later this year. And now that Netanyahu has all but secured a victory, it’s possible his coalition could pass legislation protecting him from prosecution while in office, in essence letting him get away with his alleged crimes for the time being.
snip
Benjamin Netanyahu won Israel's election. Here's what comes next.
The Israeli prime minister appears to have won reelection. Now he has to beat legal charges.https://www.vox.com/world/2019/4/10/18302233/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-2019
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to hold on to power, winning what will be a record fifth term in office despite having faced a bruising reelection fight. The preliminary results from Israel’s Tuesday election have Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party getting 35 seats out of a total 120 seats in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament). While Likud didn’t win an outright majority of seats, that’s typical in Israeli elections.
Party leaders generally become prime ministers by cobbling together a parliamentary majority with the help of smaller parties. In this case, a group of smaller right-wing parties expected to back Netanyahu seems to have captured 65 seats, enough to give him a 10 seat majority over the rival center-left bloc (the exact numbers could change as the remaining two percent of votes are tallied).
Netanyahu is now set to be the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history — even longer than David Ben-Gurion, the country’s first prime minister often described as “Israel’s George Washington.” And the ramifications of his fifth term could be enormous, both for the health of Israeli democracy and the fate of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The prime minister is facing a pending criminal indictment on bribery and fraud charges by Israel’s attorney general that’s likely to come down later this year. And now that Netanyahu has all but secured a victory, it’s possible his coalition could pass legislation protecting him from prosecution while in office, in essence letting him get away with his alleged crimes for the time being.
snip
April 10, 2019
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has gained a fair share of attention—and blistering criticism—since floating the idea of an independent presidential candidacy earlier this year. Many Democrats saw the Brooklyn-born billionaire as another entitled executive, better off in Davos than playing a potential spoiler who could return the White House to President Donald Trump in 2020.
But Schultz, 65, who started his bus tour of middle America in Johnson County Tuesday afternoon, said he remains unfazed. “We expected what was going to come,” he said, sipping a Doubleshot Espresso as his private bus, tricked out with leather seats and plasma screens, headed west on I-70 toward Lawrence and the University of Kansas.
“I also think it’s a false narrative what they’re saying about I’m going to be a spoiler. Not true. Lifelong Republicans are going to be very interested in what I have to say on one issue alone -- and that is character. Lifelong republicans will not vote for a Democrat, especially one that represents socialist values.”
One other point:
“I’ve never been to Davos, just for the record.”
Although he hasn’t formally announced his candidacy (he plans to do so over the summer), that’s not stopping him from getting out on the trail. He plans to spend the rest of the week visiting Kansans before continuing on to Arizona and Utah.
snip
Starbucks founder, unfazed by brickbats, pitches Kansans on independent presidential bid
https://www.kansascity.com/latest-news/article229018284.htmlFormer Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has gained a fair share of attention—and blistering criticism—since floating the idea of an independent presidential candidacy earlier this year. Many Democrats saw the Brooklyn-born billionaire as another entitled executive, better off in Davos than playing a potential spoiler who could return the White House to President Donald Trump in 2020.
But Schultz, 65, who started his bus tour of middle America in Johnson County Tuesday afternoon, said he remains unfazed. “We expected what was going to come,” he said, sipping a Doubleshot Espresso as his private bus, tricked out with leather seats and plasma screens, headed west on I-70 toward Lawrence and the University of Kansas.
“I also think it’s a false narrative what they’re saying about I’m going to be a spoiler. Not true. Lifelong Republicans are going to be very interested in what I have to say on one issue alone -- and that is character. Lifelong republicans will not vote for a Democrat, especially one that represents socialist values.”
One other point:
“I’ve never been to Davos, just for the record.”
Although he hasn’t formally announced his candidacy (he plans to do so over the summer), that’s not stopping him from getting out on the trail. He plans to spend the rest of the week visiting Kansans before continuing on to Arizona and Utah.
snip
April 9, 2019
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/liberals-threaten-house-democrats-budget-plans-clouding-coming-fiscal-talks/2019/04/09/ed116e72-5ad0-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html?utm_term=.94111ee9397a
The development demonstrated the newfound clout of the most liberal members of the House, and their ability to frustrate their leaders’ plans if they stick together — much like the conservative Freedom Caucus routinely did when Republicans controlled the House. And it underscored divisions among House Democrats that have repeatedly forced them to focus on internal disputes instead of the governing agenda they hoped to celebrate as they approach 100 days in the majority. They will reach that milestone on Friday as they gather in Virginia for their annual retreat.
“We have to figure out whether we’re going to be able to govern,” Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) told reporters Tuesday morning as plans to hold a vote on his legislation on Wednesday began to collapse.
At stake Tuesday was legislation setting overall federal spending levels for domestic and military programs that depend on annual congressional appropriations, including the Pentagon and agencies such as the Education and Health and Human Services departments that affect many Americans. (The bill would not set spending levels for programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that are funded automatically.)
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus were pushing an amendment calling for higher levels of domestic spending. With Republicans expected to unanimously oppose the legislation, leaders could lose only 17 Democrats on the vote, giving the group of lawmakers the power to exact their demands.
snip
House Democrats cancel budget vote as liberals demand more spending on social programs
A liberal revolt forced House Democratic leaders to call off a planned vote on a two-year budget plan Tuesday, an embarrassing outcome for leadership that raised questions about Congress’ ability to solve huge spending fights that loom later this year.https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/liberals-threaten-house-democrats-budget-plans-clouding-coming-fiscal-talks/2019/04/09/ed116e72-5ad0-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html?utm_term=.94111ee9397a
The development demonstrated the newfound clout of the most liberal members of the House, and their ability to frustrate their leaders’ plans if they stick together — much like the conservative Freedom Caucus routinely did when Republicans controlled the House. And it underscored divisions among House Democrats that have repeatedly forced them to focus on internal disputes instead of the governing agenda they hoped to celebrate as they approach 100 days in the majority. They will reach that milestone on Friday as they gather in Virginia for their annual retreat.
“We have to figure out whether we’re going to be able to govern,” Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) told reporters Tuesday morning as plans to hold a vote on his legislation on Wednesday began to collapse.
At stake Tuesday was legislation setting overall federal spending levels for domestic and military programs that depend on annual congressional appropriations, including the Pentagon and agencies such as the Education and Health and Human Services departments that affect many Americans. (The bill would not set spending levels for programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that are funded automatically.)
Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus were pushing an amendment calling for higher levels of domestic spending. With Republicans expected to unanimously oppose the legislation, leaders could lose only 17 Democrats on the vote, giving the group of lawmakers the power to exact their demands.
snip
April 8, 2019
2020 frontrunner Bernie Sanders is stalling over releasing his tax returns. Stephanie Ruhle discusses whether Sanders’ records contain anything that can drive his supporters away. Weighing in: MSNBC Contributor Victoria DeFrancisco Soto, Washington Post National Political Reporter Robert Costa, Princeton University Professor Eddie Glaude and Commentary Magazine Associate Editor Noah Rothman.
MSNBC: Could Bernie Sanders' tax returns drive his supporters away?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/c/could-bernie-sanders-tax-returns-drive-his-supporters-away/vp-BBVJuOC2020 frontrunner Bernie Sanders is stalling over releasing his tax returns. Stephanie Ruhle discusses whether Sanders’ records contain anything that can drive his supporters away. Weighing in: MSNBC Contributor Victoria DeFrancisco Soto, Washington Post National Political Reporter Robert Costa, Princeton University Professor Eddie Glaude and Commentary Magazine Associate Editor Noah Rothman.
April 8, 2019
Host a watch party for Pete's special announcement this Sunday
This Sunday afternoon, Pete is making a special announcement in South Bend. (If you still need to RSVP, please do so here.)
Some supporters will be driving in to join us in person, but most folks will be tuning in from their living rooms, dorms, and community spaces all across the country.
Will you host a watch party so that Pete supporters can meet up and be a part of the special announcement?
What: A watch party for Pete’s special announcement
Where: Your home or another spot in your community
When: Tune in around 1:45 pm EDT
Why: To build community around Pete's bold vision for the future
How: Sign up to host here
We’ll be livestreaming the event to our website and on Facebook and YouTube, so all you need to have is a space for folks to gather and an Internet connection.
You can host the event in your home, or you can find a spot in your community like a restaurant, community room, or library.
Because you’ll likely be watching from your computer, it will be best to have a way to show it on a screen and make sure the audio is loud enough for everyone to hear.
If you are ready to host a watch party for the special announcement on Sunday afternoon, please sign up:
https://www.peteforamerica.com/april14-host/
We’ll send a resource guide to everyone who volunteers to host, and will hold a conference call to answer any questions.
We’re so excited for Sunday and are grateful you’re going to be a part of the day.
Thanks,
Pete for America
P.S Grab an "Explorer Club" shirt while you can! 
April 8, 2019
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/08/windrush-victim-compensation-scheme-government-scandal
Sajid Javid, the home secretary, promised to make things right by the victims of the so-called Windrush scandal. He now has his chance to live up to the promise – but the much-needed and welcome compensation scheme announced on Wednesday has some potentially serious flaws.
Guidance, which runs to 45 pages, details all the documents that the people affected will have to present to apply for compensation for the hardships they have endured over many years: loss of jobs and income, debt, homelessness, stress, physical and mental health problems, detention and even deportation.
The fundamental problems within the Home Office that contributed to the Windrush scandal in the first place – the disproportionate amount of evidence required, the difficulties of application processes and the lack of support for completing applications – appear to be reflected once again in this scheme. Not to mention the continuing “hostile environment” that generates a culture of disbelief and antagonism towards applicants.
There is no legal aid being made available to provide specialist support to fill in the lengthy application form, help people quantify their losses or track down the evidence required. The burden of proof is still disproportionately placed on the individual. To access compensation, people are again required to provide evidence that might not exist – for example, to prove their attempts to contact the Home Office to resolve the problems that the Home Office was itself responsible for creating. The cost of applications to the Home Office to secure some form of evidence of status – in the face of its refusal to recognise their existing rights – will not be reimbursed, though they can cost individuals hundreds or even thousands of pounds in fees (and debt).
snip
No Windrush victim will feel 'compensated' by this bungled scheme
Complex, expensive and with derisory payouts, the government’s attempts to atone for this scandal are an insulthttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/08/windrush-victim-compensation-scheme-government-scandal
Sajid Javid, the home secretary, promised to make things right by the victims of the so-called Windrush scandal. He now has his chance to live up to the promise – but the much-needed and welcome compensation scheme announced on Wednesday has some potentially serious flaws.
Guidance, which runs to 45 pages, details all the documents that the people affected will have to present to apply for compensation for the hardships they have endured over many years: loss of jobs and income, debt, homelessness, stress, physical and mental health problems, detention and even deportation.
The fundamental problems within the Home Office that contributed to the Windrush scandal in the first place – the disproportionate amount of evidence required, the difficulties of application processes and the lack of support for completing applications – appear to be reflected once again in this scheme. Not to mention the continuing “hostile environment” that generates a culture of disbelief and antagonism towards applicants.
There is no legal aid being made available to provide specialist support to fill in the lengthy application form, help people quantify their losses or track down the evidence required. The burden of proof is still disproportionately placed on the individual. To access compensation, people are again required to provide evidence that might not exist – for example, to prove their attempts to contact the Home Office to resolve the problems that the Home Office was itself responsible for creating. The cost of applications to the Home Office to secure some form of evidence of status – in the face of its refusal to recognise their existing rights – will not be reimbursed, though they can cost individuals hundreds or even thousands of pounds in fees (and debt).
snip
April 8, 2019
Midwestern mayor Buttigieg wows progressive Dems in San Francisco
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/29/pete-buttigieg-san-francisco-1243203
Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay major presidential candidate, took his campaign Thursday to San Francisco — a heartland of progressive gay politics — but said he is running “not to be a candidate for the LGBTQ community alone, or for any one group,’’ but to speak to all Americans.
“I’m proud of who I am, I am proud of my husband and our marriage,’’ said the Democratic mayor of South Bend, Ind., whose spouse, Chasten, sat nearby as he addressed reporters here prior to a sold-out speech before hundreds at the Commonwealth Club. “It might just be the most normal thing in my life.’’ His husband, Buttigieg said, will have a role in his upstart campaign for the White House because he is “somebody who’s passionate about education, passionate about family ... and his story is part of my story.’’
When asked how he will get past what many believe could be his greatest hurdle in running for the presidency — his status as a married gay man — Buttigieg told POLITICO, “I don’t know how it plays in San Francisco. But I can tell you I came out, during a reelection campaign, in Indiana, while Mike Pence was the governor. And I wound up winning reelection by 80 percent."
Buttigieg was greeted by a rousing standing ovation, whoops and cheers from the audience in the progressive bastion of San Francisco, the hometown of fellow Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, who served as district attorney in the city before becoming the state’s attorney general.
Asked about competing with Harris, Buttigieg said, “I don’t think I’m running against any individual, especially when there’s like 20 of us. I admire a lot of the people in this process, but each of us has a different message.’’
snip
Clara Jeffery interviews Pete Buttigieg, Inforum, Commonwealth Club, 3/28
Midwestern mayor Buttigieg wows progressive Dems in San Francisco
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/29/pete-buttigieg-san-francisco-1243203
Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay major presidential candidate, took his campaign Thursday to San Francisco — a heartland of progressive gay politics — but said he is running “not to be a candidate for the LGBTQ community alone, or for any one group,’’ but to speak to all Americans.
“I’m proud of who I am, I am proud of my husband and our marriage,’’ said the Democratic mayor of South Bend, Ind., whose spouse, Chasten, sat nearby as he addressed reporters here prior to a sold-out speech before hundreds at the Commonwealth Club. “It might just be the most normal thing in my life.’’ His husband, Buttigieg said, will have a role in his upstart campaign for the White House because he is “somebody who’s passionate about education, passionate about family ... and his story is part of my story.’’
When asked how he will get past what many believe could be his greatest hurdle in running for the presidency — his status as a married gay man — Buttigieg told POLITICO, “I don’t know how it plays in San Francisco. But I can tell you I came out, during a reelection campaign, in Indiana, while Mike Pence was the governor. And I wound up winning reelection by 80 percent."
Buttigieg was greeted by a rousing standing ovation, whoops and cheers from the audience in the progressive bastion of San Francisco, the hometown of fellow Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, who served as district attorney in the city before becoming the state’s attorney general.
Asked about competing with Harris, Buttigieg said, “I don’t think I’m running against any individual, especially when there’s like 20 of us. I admire a lot of the people in this process, but each of us has a different message.’’
snip
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: London
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Member since: Sun Jul 1, 2018, 07:25 PM
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