Top Diaries

You would be wrong. Why? Tell us, how Corbyn support for BREXIT supports "class discourse" in the UK.

From where I stand, BREXIT in no way, shape or form, will disrupt status quo.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 06:51:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Did the University of Virginia actually give this group of crazies a permit for the torchlight parade? If so, why should they be surprised at the chants of "We will not be replaced by Jews!" Some serious consideration of the common sense, if any, of the current University Administration needs to follow from the State of Virginia. The organizers HAD to have planned for this to be deeply offensive to those they despise. As a public hazard that procession was tantamount "to crying 'FIRE' in a crowded auditorium." Had that not been opposed, the next time these worthies would have been chanting for killing their most hated minorities and not with polite descriptors.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 03:08:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The city of Charlottesville permitted Unite the Right ("alt-right") rally. Reports I read Sun, 13 Aug, two days after commencement of rally commencement parade 11 Aug, estimated 6,000 "alt-right" congregation. My source was Metafilter: I tracked linked stories about the vehicular homicide of pedestian by-stander/counterprotester to the Daily Progress. She was crushed between two parked cars by the perp.

I skimmed quite a few, faulty dox initiatives in the process, including but not limited to permit holder's identification with UVA alumni.

Since then, Sunday, I have noted with interest and no surprise that commentators have embellished facts of events that weekend with isolated black-hooded anarchist-like property destruction and altercations between fiendish demonstrators and provocateurs. As is the custom. Since, like, Haymarket.

Definitely earlier. But I would digress.

I don't need GOOG.

Collectively, BLM fits the bill of PROVOCATEUR issued by Central Casting, because. 2,700+ comments by freakishly ignorant "citizen journalists" can't be wrong. I added that thread to demonstrate "confirmation bias" of "race relations" in the US, "real-time".

So. Trump entertains mutually assured destruction by "home-grown" terrorists. How did Mr Obama conclude Charlotte, SC mass murder by the "lone wolf" terrorist? I forget.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 06:31:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks for the summary. I missed most of the details early and didn't trust my impressions too much. From your Metafilter link:

On 11 August 2017, alt-right protesters surrounded counter-demonstrators standing in a ring around the Thomas Jefferson statue at UVA in Charlottesville, VA. This was a preamble to the main Unite the Right rally, taking place today. ACLU Virginia is present and posting updates via Twitter.

That confirms my impression that the whole thing started with the torchlight parade at UVa with the chants. I missed that protestors had been surrounded by the marchers and their associates by the statue. That was not well elucidated on PBS News over the weekend.

Later the article indicates that the UVA had sent an email that approved the rally and that they have been criticized for so doing. The NYT has a piece up on the role of the ACLU and the criticism it has taken. I do like the response of the University of Texas official who said of open carry advocates that, should they come onto campus to hold a demonstration they would be arrested as they are not a part of the University Community. That contrasts very favorable with the UVa actions and is actually a very sensible position. The commenter rightly notes that Universities should have plans to deal with such situations - especially with those not done by their students.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:38:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "What about the alt-left (none / 1)

I've no idea why you fixate on UVA responsibility for UNITTE THE RIGHT rally permit, when I've told you that the city issued the permit, opening the door to 6,000 radicals.

I've spent some time in Ch'ville, because one of my college roommates stettled there. I visited. I would not. It's a bullshit small town, notwithstanding Tho. Jefferson's legacy of bullshit federal-democratic central government in the canon of US American democratic ideals. Which left plenty room for his despotic competition with rivals and aristotlian philosophy of agrarian "good life" in executive offices.

I read AP GOVERNENT. Wilson and Diulio (13th Ed) with my daughter. Because empirical "political science".

Before this, my college roommate was appalled that I wandered one dawn to photograph the agrarian landscape ringing Ch'ville and came home alive.

Richmond was the capitol of the confederacy, let's not forget. Virginians haven't to this day. But DNC's PR apparatus in recent years would like to cast the pop "liberal", which no one, I promise you, in the DMV believes, regardless of their GSE contractor employment status. Only comparative"NoVA. The state is that red, despite DNC propaganda supporting Fed candidates. Swanson agrees.

2. The racists who have begun coming to Charlottesville to campaign for governor, garner attention, threaten violence, engage in violence, and commit murder are almost all from outside Charlottesville, and extremely unwelcome here. Charlottesville is a slightly left-of-center, Democratic Party area. Most people don't rally for good causes or against bad ones. Most people don't want the Lee statue taken down. (Or at least they didn't until it became a gathering point for neo-Confederates.) Most people want other memorials added to public space to diversify. And most people don't want white supremacists coming to town with their hatred and their violence.

UVA venue for UNITE THE RITE opposition around a flag was a sideshow of a profound cultural dissemblanc , causa belli. What you might like to do is verify anarchy.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 09:50:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I was just trying to sort out how this began - at UVa with that grotesque parade with torches. And I know that there must have been planning on the part of the Unite the Right people. IMO the University should have invoked the same principle as cited by UT admins and just have moved to arrest them for demonstrating on the campus when they were not part of the university community.

And I am well aware that Cash's description of the locals in

The Mind of the South still applies, especially to those drawn to Unite the Right. It does seem that the portion of southerners who fit that description is significantly smaller these days, but that fact only serves to make those who remain more fervid in their defense of those views.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 01:45:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The University of Virginia (U.Va. or UVA), frequently referred to simply as Virginia, is a public research university and the flagship for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Public institutional status (tax funded income, in whole or in part) differentiates private establishments in education AND commercial enterprise. The business of very public funded enterprise in the USA is subject to de minimis compliance tests with US constitutional or federal, not state, enforcement including but not limited to 1st Amd civil rights.

My clever neandertal and denisovan allele-bearing cousins have fixated on these public criteria to identify test case petitions and litigate alleged unconstitutional race-factor discrimination ("preference", "bias") by admissions officers' compliance with EEOC statute and agency regulation. Because 1st Amd. clause, case law, "freedom of association" may lawfully permit someone to discriminate application of civil rights under supreme law of the land, especially 14th and 15th Amd.

U.S. digital rights group slams tech firms for barring neo-Nazis

Today, few "civil rights" advocates are willing or able to define any limit to free speech, much less imperative speech inciting or commanding actual violence.

That's how fucked up US "society" is, because founding vaters never intended unity.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 10:12:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

"How were the torches obtained" (none / 0)

Ima guess, because my professional experience orchestrating premium merchandising for promotional events counts for shit among eurotrib subscribers who also have no idea how anyone, especially, Louis Farakhan could organized a Million [Man] March ("meme" [!!!]) in the USA.

Price of RT transportation to the site includes one tiki torch (Made in China). Bring Your Own Lighter (BYOL).

yo.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 06:47:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Did lots of the Unite the Right protesters arrive by charter bus? What I noticed was that all the torches I saw seemed identical. That suggests they were provided by the organizers and those organizers could also have chartered the buses. And it certainly was no surprise to me that Louis Farakhan could organize the 'Million Man March', nor would it surprise people at ET, IMO. We all should have known that since MLK's memorable appearance on the on the National Mall for the 'I have a dream' speech - unless blinded by racial bigotry.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:51:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Indeed. Bus --mass transit par excellence-- is how black folk have traveled US America, because price, because "fierce urgency of now". We were both seasoned adults in '95, ARG. But how you or I recall the effort to assemble peacefully (1st Amd) in D.C., to instantiate protest of gov't sanctined abridgements of civil rights (from abortion to voting, housing, employment) varies wildly, I'll warrant. It was a "thing" in '95 unknown since '63, '53. Subsequently, Farakhan's "entrepreneurial" accomplishment --which was specifically to instantiate the POLITICAL AGENCY of black men in apartheid USA-- was crucified by MSM for at least a decade, because his "anti-semiticism".

How Spike Lee's `Bus' Trumped The Million Man March (2010 ->1996-> 1995)

The Internet was young in those days, so men mainly got wind of the march through church, their favorite watering hole or the barbershop, which is where I first heard about it.
[...]
My bus had a mixture of young and old heads on board. There was some singing, a lot of debating, but no violence. Cursing was not allowed on the bus, and at least one person was taken to task for firing up a joint (we may not have known what kind of party it was, but we knew it wasn't that kind of party). We were all bracing for a life-changing experience, but when we got to D.C., there was no itinerary; we were on our own.

MSM subsequently adopted q Million [*] March events standard.

Ask yourself, "SELF, why don't I know how many of 6,000 estimated UNITE TO RITE protesters? Did all 6,000 arrive in passenger cars and park at UVA lots? Is 6,000 or 1,000 less than one million? Is there video?"

It didn't happen, if there's no video.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:32:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, travel by bus, such as Greyhound or Continental Trailways, has substantially collapsed in the USA in the last 20 years. I saw many abandoned former bus terminals in LA before I left and have found there is no regularly scheduled bus service in Mountain Home, Ar. This was why I expected that how ever many Unite the Right demonstrators came, they mostly came by charter bus. The parking would have been a problem indeed. Though some may have come by car and stayed in motels. Were anyone actually interested in investigating the details of the episode the chartering of buses would likely be a good place to start.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 04:32:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How many ET subscribers have ridden a bus to protest domestic or federal (EP) legislation in "Brussels"?

How many ET subscribers have ridden a passenger car (sole use or "car pool") to protest domestic or federal (EP) legislation in "Brussels"?

I wouldn't know. The comment history does not obtain.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 10:30:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "How were the torches obtained" (none / 1)

The lack of European media and relative powerlessness of the parliament means that popular pressure is better applied to state capitals were you can target your legaslative and executive with demands for the executive voting no in the council and more importantly getting the media attention. Having demonstrations in one state capital and media attention makes it easier to get media's attention to demonstrations on the same issue in neighbouring states.

Then you work with allies in the EP when the parliamentarians see that the issue is important in their home state.

Or at least that is how I remember the reasoning behind the campaign to stop ACTA.

by fjallstrom on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 11:11:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you for this information. It does not however answer my question.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 06:56:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I doubt that many here have demonstrated outside the European Parliament for the simple reason that most of us would have difficulty remembering the EP doing anything of consequence; good, bad, or indifferent. Power in the EU is still overwhelmingly wielded in national capitals, something the Brexiteers never wished to acknowledge, because that would have meant acknowledging that all the things they blamed Brussels for had in fact been tacitly or explicitly endorsed if not actually spearheaded by their own government. Brussels has been a convenient scapegoat for the UK, little more.

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:13:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you for this information. It does not answer my question, How many ET subscribers have ridden a bus to protest domestic or federal (EP) legislation in "Brussels"?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:39:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Those are your family and friends, but you won't talk to them.

I know I have, but I don't know how many have. I also don't now what entitles you to this information. We don't encourage personalised political discourse or "lefter than thou" moral posturing or superiority here.

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:48:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"entitles you to this information" (none / 0)

I am an interested party to EU um democractic processes, no more or less exercising "moral posturing or superiority" than you have by promoting "Booman" election to an office of public trust in the USA.

Are you, personally, a US citizen?

Don't answer that question! "We" know, I ought respect your anonymity in all matters relating democratic franchise to praxis everywhere. Especially Tunisia and Morocco.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 11:48:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "entitles you to this information" (none / 0)

Thank you for this information

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 11:58:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "entitles you to this information" (none / 0)

I'm not sure how reaching out to Booman in his disillusion at his pundit role and suggesting their might be another way of dealing with his anger and frustration at political developments in the US constitutes "moral posturing or superiority" and I am sure he didn't take it in that spirit as he recommended my diary - something he almost never does. However YMMV.

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 09:18:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

secrecy (none / 0)

is of utmost importance in evaluating the number of and solidarity of "social democrats" worldwide. There is no safety in numbers according to the Law of Large Numbers, if most respondents to a survey refuse to identify their actual participation in protest, or participation in grievance of state governance, by assembly or ballot.

Is your legal name truly "Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:48:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]"? Reconsider your privilege to adopt one or more pseudonyms and ISP proxies. This strategy could forestall retaliatory action by USA agents.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 12:06:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: secrecy (4.00 / 2)

I have always assumed that, should they be interested, 'US Agents' could quickly identify ARGeezer and any of the commenters at ET or elsewhere. The only thing bought is that they would not be able to use this information in court until after they had obtained a warrant to obtain it legally. But I rather doubt that I would ever be considered worth such an investigation, and, if I were so considered, there is much that could be done to discomfort me without ever bothering with the courts.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 04:40:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Pod Save the People (none / 0)

Fifty-two (52) minutesof testimony regarding events in the weekend of 11 Aug 2017 in Charlottesville, VA and a brief interview with Virginia's governor, Mr McAuliffe.

illustrated by MSM publisher businessinsider.com, Photos show how a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville devolved [SIC] into chaos and bloodshed

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 06:53:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"devolve"? (none / 0)

A few people dispute this description of the event and the condition of socially acceptable behavior from which it emerged.

This Twitter thread nails it: "White liberals spend more time denying reality to PoC than they do hearing reality from their white conservative family and friends."

America Asleep

Charlottsville is thus not a result of Trump, of his personality, of his friends such as Steve Bannon. It is part of a deep current in the collective psyche of the U.S.

To See or to Nazi: Trump's Moral Blindspot is America's

The poor recognize Trump for what he is: he's the guy who collects the rent, who turns the water and electricity off, who spits at you when you ask for money for food, who sends your kid off to war while his goes big game hunting, who snitches your mom out to the cops for her Oxycontin habit. They don't need any false words from Trump to heal their shock about the evil rampage in Charlottesville. They aren't shocked by Charlottesville. They've lived that reality most of their lives. And they aren't startled that the perpetrators have sympathizers in the government. That's the way it's always been on the mean streets of America.

Altogether now, sing!

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 08:25:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump (none / 1)

Two more to go (h/t Digby)

All of the men surrounding VP Pence are now gone. pic.twitter.com/KVousMN08C
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 18, 2017

by Bernard (bernard) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 08:10:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

< wipes tears >

Of lesser evil: never gets old in US America. [TINA ALERT]
A Liberal Case for President Pence

I wouldn't say I'm a big Pence fan. But everything's relative. He doesn't approach each hour as a mortal threat to precarious manhood, and it's hard to imagine Pence groping women, or bragging to others that he did. When Nazis went on a homicidal rampage, Pence's response, aside from the requisite media bashing that all Trump White House employees must engage in, seemed both professional and perturbed, suggesting he did not, on the whole [?!], approve of murderous thugs. ...

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 08:43:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I prefer Trump to Pence. Trump creates so much chaos that little gets accomplished - and that is the best thing about him. The less he accomplishes the better off we all are. Pence, OTOH, would try to create as little chaos as possible and could get much more of the very same agenda passed into legislation. Let Trump hang in there until December of 2018.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 02:33:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

hmm, yes, well. I'm a casual cockroach theorist: Where there is one, there are many. Apply.

See here, 18 Aug weekend sighting.

Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser H.R. McMaster rehearsed their pitch heading into the Camp David strategy session in an effort to persuade Trump to accept commanders' proposals to beef up the 8,400 American troops in the country, the sources said.
[...]
The two sources -- an administration official and a senior White House aide -- also confirmed that Erik Prince, founder of the former Blackwater private security firm, had been scheduled to attend the session but that he was blocked at the last minute. The administration official said McMaster was the one who blocked Prince.

So. What else is Mr Pence up to?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 04:10:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And I certainly did not mean that I am happy with Pence. I can only wish that we had a repeat of the Agnew/Nixon sequence, but that would depend on Pence having done something egregiously illegal AND apprehendable as such by a majority of the US electorate. And just who could be appointed in Pence's place? A fifty food diameter meteror striking the White House when both Trump and Pence are there seems more likely.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 04:56:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And even then we would get Paul Ryan.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 04:56:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Charlottesville Police Said to Issue Warrant for Rally Speaker

yep :) can't win for losing these days.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 09:35:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trump (none / 0)

All together now, sing. We will cover our asses again!

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 08:47:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

goodLORD! (none / 0)

The police reportedly issued the warrant for Cantwell for his alleged illicit use of pepper spray and injury by caustic agent or explosive.
[...]
As he listed all of the procedures he and his associates followed in order to gain an assembly permit for the fatal "Unite the Right" rally on August 12, Cantwell said he "honestly" believed he has been "law-abiding."

hmmm. DoJ being in the state it's in, it is unlikely anyone is left to assemble mail and wire fraud charges against Cantwell. That case could, if successful, put him away for a few years. No "Hate Crime" escalation needed!

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 01:09:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: goodLORD! (none / 0)

'Assault with intent to do great bodily harm' should be chargeable for an act that could result in blindness and, if convicted, that would carry significant prison time. Prehaps Va can handle this without DoJ.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 05:05:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: goodLORD! (none / 0)

"The FBI also says it is opening a civil rights investigation into the incident, together with the Department of Justice.."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 24th, 2017 at 10:50:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: goodLORD! (none / 1)

He was surrendered today to "two felony counts of using tear gas and one felony count of causing "malicious bodily injury" with a caustic substance." and was denied bond.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 24th, 2017 at 10:58:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: goodLORD! (none / 0)

"Let him be crucified."

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 25th, 2017 at 01:58:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Another one... (none / 0)

...bites the dust.

Controversial Trump Adviser Sebastian Gorka Leaves White House - HuffPo

WASHINGTON ― Sebastian Gorka, a controversial adviser to President Donald Trump, is leaving the White House after months of criticism about his ties to far-right foreign political groups and his description of Islam as an inherently violent religion.
The Federalist published a copy of his resignation letter Friday. But after the letter was made public, a White House official implied that Gorka was forced to step down. "Sebastian Gorka did not resign, but I can confirm he no longer works at the White House," the official said late Friday.

But also:

Trump Pardons Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Who Illegally Targeted Latinos - HuffPo

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Friday pardoned a notorious former Arizona sheriff who willfully violated a federal judge's order by unlawfully detaining individuals his officers claimed might be in the country illegally.
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had previously proclaimed himself "America's toughest sheriff," was convicted of criminal contempt last month for violating a 2011 order that barred Arpaio and his office from detaining individuals solely based on suspicions about their legal status. Arpaio, 85, was scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 5.

by Bernard (bernard) on Sat Aug 26th, 2017 at 12:22:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

All blonde women look alike (none / 0)

Link to video

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Tue Aug 29th, 2017 at 10:29:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Trump and Mein Kampf (none / 0)

No, I'm not being sensational. But this isn't quite what you expect. From the introduction (p.77) of the new Critical Edition of Mein Kampf

Benötigt wurde eine gut lesbare und sachliche Schrift, die möglichst neutral wirkt. Zunächst würde an die Trump-Antiqua gedacht. Bei den weiteren Recherchen stellte sich allerdings heraus, dass Georg Trump 1934 die Münchner Meisterschule für Deutschlands Buchdrucker übernommen hatte - ein Amt, in das er damals mit "freudig aufgenommene Sieg-Heil-Rufen auf der Führer" eingeführt wurde. Diese Nähe zum Dritten Reich sollte auf keinen Fall hergestellt werden.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Tue Aug 29th, 2017 at 07:13:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

World (none / 0)

WORLD

by Bjinse on Mon Aug 14th, 2017 at 06:54:48 PM EST

Of borders, 'enclaves', and solar 'power' (none / 0)

in Morocco
Melilla: Spanish enclave in Morocco offers an exit route to Europe

The majority of applicants come from war zones in Iraq and Syria, getting to Morocco after a long trip across the continent, but in recent months there has been a surge in Moroccan applicants from Alhucemas, the Moroccan city at the epicenter of upheavals in the Rif region, about 100km from Melilla.

Morocco demands `clear signal' from EU on future relations

The department Ajanuch heads on Tuesday (7 February) issued a statement in which it warned of the "serious consequences" that will arise from "obstacles" the EU puts in the way of the agricultural agreement signed in 2012. The agreement was partly annulled by a court in December 2015, for including Western Sahara, but the European Court of Justice overturned the ruling last December.
Beyond the preamble to the judgement, which distinguished between Morocco and Western Sahara, "there is now a very clear verdict initiating the agreement". Morocco will now "not accept others trying to apply their own interpretations. [...] The EU's attitude is confusing," the minister added.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Aug 16th, 2017 at 02:38:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

NYC to remove Marshall Pétain plaque:

The commemoration for Nazi collaborator Philippe Pétain in the Canyon of Heroes will be one of the first we remove. https://t.co/hAnGmkCdtg
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) August 16, 2017

by Bernard (bernard) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 06:33:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

Thank you for this information. I had not wondered until reading this post, How many travel guides, Fodor's for example, feature Marshall Pétain landmarks across Europe?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 10:01:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (4.00 / 2)

There are no "Pétain landmarks" per se anywhere in Europe. We can probably find references to him on the monuments dedicated to the battle of Verdun in 1916, where he was the main military leader on the French side. BTW, it was because of his role during WW I that he was invited to NYC in 1931, and the plaque in question was put there on that occasion - a good nine years before Vichy. Note that most monuments to WW I & II do feature anonymous soldiers rather than generals (I was thinking of this).

Vichy is of course one of the places where one might find references to Pétain: he lived there during four years as the head of the infamous collaborationist "Etat francais" regime (the last statue of Pétain was reportedly removed from the Vichy streets only 3 years ago). Lastly, there may be some mention of him at the Fort de Pierre-Levée citadel on the Île d'Yeu, where he was imprisoned following his trial and died in 1951.

by Bernard (bernard) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 06:44:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (4.00 / 2)

While the plaque is due to his 1931 visit, I think the plaque itself is quite recent, and has been a point of controversy from the start. The same applies to the one honouring the Shah of Iran, but there the objections come from Muslims, who object to people walking over the name of the Prophet.

Incidentally, France renamed the last street named after Pétain a few years. The same des not apply to Petain (sic) Ave in Milltown NJ.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 08:03:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

Chinese state media made a racist video about India and is censoring its critics - WaPo

A state-run Chinese media agency faces growing backlash over its propaganda video demeaning India's Sikh community, the latest development in what's fast becoming a volatile border dispute between the two nuclear powers.
Titled "7 Sins of India," the video features a Chinese actor, dressed in a turban and phony beard, reciting monosyllabic lines in English but in a manner Indians "are perceived to speak," as the Hindustan Times characterized it.
Critics in India, China and elsewhere have condemned the video as flagrantly racist.
The three-minute clip was published Wednesday on several verified social media channels operated by Xinhua News, an English-language outlet headquartered in Beijing and overseen by China's State Council. It's available internationally on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In China, however, another English-language news site appears to have been censored after criticizing the video.

by Bernard (bernard) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 07:08:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

WaPoo?

Gee. I thought that organization was BEZOS controlled. Am I to understand, BEZOS DICTATED this story to CIA operatives who publish WaPoo "reporting"? That can't be good for US America, can it?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:27:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

There are of course non-USian sources, including local ones:

WATCH: 'Racist' Chinese video on India's 'seven sins' in Doklam - WION

Watch: China mocks India with a racist video over Doklam standoff - Times of India

Chinese state news agency slammed over `racist' India border row video - South China Morning Post

by Bernard (bernard) on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 07:39:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

British holidays after Brexit (none / 0)

Express: O'Leary

"They genuinely seem to think there is going to be a red, white and blue Brexit - when you ask them how the hell they are going to get there, they don't have a clue.
"One of their ministers suggested the way of replacing open skies between the UK and Europe is an open skies agreement with Pakistan.
"There will be a lot of Pakistanis wanting to travel to the UK, but I'm not quite sure those Brits, who like to holiday in Spain, Portugal and Greece fancy Karachi for their summer holidays."

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 07:40:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: British holidays after Brexit (none / 0)

As I wrote several times, a more frugal life ahead for many Britons post Brexit.

by Bernard (bernard) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:01:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Jury selection for the Shkreli trial (none / 1)

A few random excerpts from the Harper transcript

he court: Juror Number 47, please come up.
juror no. 47: He's the most hated man in America. In my opinion, he equates with Bernie Madoff with the drugs for pregnant women going from $15 to $750. My parents are in their eighties. They're struggling to pay for their medication. My mother was telling me yesterday how my father's cancer drug is $9,000 a month.
the court: The case is going to come before you on evidence that you must consider fairly and with an open mind.
juror no. 47: I would find that difficult.
the court: And that's based on your parents' experience with medication?
juror no. 47: It's based on people working very hard for their money. He defrauded his company and his investors, and that's not right.
the court: Ma'am, we're going to excuse you
[...]
juror no. 52: When I walked in here today I looked at him, and in my head, that's a snake -- not knowing who he was. I just walked in and looked right at him and that's a snake.
brafman: So much for the presumption of innocence.
the court: We will excuse Juror Number 52.
[...]
The court: Juror Number 10, please come forward.
juror no. 10: The only thing I'd be impartial about is what prison this guy goes to.
the court: Okay. We will excuse you.
[...]
juror no. 59: Your Honor, totally he is guilty and in no way can I let him slide out of anything because --
the court: Okay. Is that your attitude toward anyone charged with a crime who has not been proven guilty?
juror no. 59: It's my attitude toward his entire demeanor, what he has done to people.
the court: All right. We are going to excuse you, sir.
juror no. 59: And he disrespected the Wu-Tang Clan.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:17:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Jury selection for the Shkreli trial (none / 0)

This item appeared in a Metafilter thread. I noted with interest, commenters were uncertain that the transcript of court proceedings published Harper's magazine were accurate representations of verbal com, because.

Doubt implies the general population has no fucking clue what skill stenography entails, every court and every atty administering a deposition records communications, that court proceedings are published, that one may obtain published US court proceeding (@PACER).

Rather than, say, interpret MSM interpretation of court proceedings.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Aug 17th, 2017 at 08:49:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Jury selection for the Shkreli trial (none / 0)

Damn, I'd just lie just so I can have a chance on the death sentence. "No, never heard of him"

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Aug 24th, 2017 at 02:11:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

Summary of the week ending 19 Aug in one impolitic headline.
Rash of Vehicular Homicides and Redecorating

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 01:16:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

Traveler, USC's mascot, comes under scrutiny for having a name similar to Robert E. Lee's horse

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 02:23:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: World (none / 0)

How much of the Alt-Right was born in LA County?

How Steve Bannon became the face of a political movement with roots in Los Angeles

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2017 at 02:14:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Democracy in Israel (none / 0)

Jerusalem Post

Anyone who votes in party primaries before a general election automatically would be counted as voting for that party in a general election, according to a bill submitted Monday by Likud MK Yoav Kisch.
Kisch's bill is intended to target the so-called "New Likudniks," a group of centrists who want the party to become less extreme and return to the values they say existed when Likud was led by Menachem Begin and are no longer prevalent in the party.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sat Aug 26th, 2017 at 07:48:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Democracy in Israel (none / 0)

Am I the only one who finds it a bit incongruent to see "less extreme" and "more like Menachem Begin" in the same sentence?

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Sun Aug 27th, 2017 at 06:42:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Democracy in Israel (none / 0)

Menachem Begin did consistently object to Ben-Gurion's apartheid policies before 1966. And here, just in time for you, is Uri Avnery's latest column, "Kaya, the royal Dog ".

YEARS AGO, a leading French journalist came to me during an Israeli election campaign. I directed him to an election rally of Menachem Begin's.
When he came back he was bewildered. "I don't understand it," he exclaimed. "When he was talking about the Arabs, he sounded like a rabid fascist. When he was talking about social affairs, he sounded like a moderate liberal. How can this fit together?"
"Begin is not a great thinker," I explained to him. "All the ideology of the Likud goes back to Vladimir Jabotinsky."
Vladimir (or Ze'ev) Jabotinsky was the founder of the "revisionist" party, the parent of the Herut Party, which was the parent of the present-day Likud. He was born in 1880 in Odessa in the Ukraine. When he was young man he was sent as a journalist to Italy, a country that had attained its freedom not so long before.
The Italian liberation movement was an unusual mixture of extreme patriotism and liberal social ideas. This fixed the young Jabotinsky's political outlook for life.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sun Aug 27th, 2017 at 06:52:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Democracy in Israel (none / 0)

Israeli politics has been moving steadily to the right ever since Golda Meir. What was extreme then is liberal now.

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sun Aug 27th, 2017 at 08:57:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Democracy in Israel (none / 1)

and yet I remember reading recently about a (rather obscure) jewish poet who realised after participating in one particularly bloody episode in 1948 that Israel was embrked on a project of "clearances" not dissimilar to those practised by previous Jewish oppressors.

He left Israel soon after.

sadly his name escapes me entirely, but he was never famous.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Aug 27th, 2017 at 03:07:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Democracy in Israel (4.00 / 2)

Guardian - Hadley Freeman - My great uncle was alienated in postwar France. Now Americans know how he felt

I wish I'd had longer to get to know Alex, but I'm glad he is not alive now to see how the realisation of his dreams has betrayed its roots. Last week, Israel's communications minister, Ayoub Kara, who calls Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "close friend", told the Jerusalem Post that staying on the right side of President Trump was more important than condemning the neo-Nazis marching in Charlottesville, Virginia. In other words, for Israel, Trump trumps Nazis, because that's where we are in 2017.
"Due to terrific relations with the US, we need to put the declarations about the Nazis in the proper proportion," Kara told the Post. "We need to condemn antisemitism and any trace of Nazism... but Trump is the best US leader Israel has ever had... and we must not accept anyone harming him."
So Israel will do what it can to stop the spread of Nazism, except criticise a man who insisted there were some "very fine people" marching with neo-Nazis earlier this month. Whoa, don't strain a muscle, Israel, you're doing some pretty extreme backwards bends there!

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Aug 27th, 2017 at 03:10:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

US Hezbollah collaboration (none / 0)

Al-Monitor

The Lebanese Armed Forces have been trained and equipped by numerous Western countries, but mainly the United States and the United Kingdom. On the first day of the Fajr al-Joroud offensive, Lebanese Armed Forces spokesman Ali Qanso pronounced, "The Lebanese army is not coordinating with Hezbollah and the Syrian army, either directly or indirectly." That said, images and sources on the ground suggest a different reality, indicating close coordination between the Lebanese Armed Forces, Hezbollah and the Syrian army. This led to mockery on social media and the posting of pictures of Hezbollah fighters and Lebanese army soldiers side by side in the offensive accompanied by a hashtag in Arabic that loosely translates, "Oh what a coincidence!" Meanwhile, British and US officials have both confirmed their forces' active presence among the Lebanese Armed Forces in the previous and ongoing border operations, resulting in an incredibly awkward reality on the ground.
[...]
The United States and the United Kingdom cannot be seen as having any association, even indirect, with Hezbollah and the Syrian army, essentially forcing all parties concerned to participate in what can only be described as an international charade for the sake of plausible deniability. According to the source close to Hezbollah and the Lebanese Armed Forces, "US Central Command called the Lebanese army chief and asked him to deny any cooperation, telling him that while they are aware of cooperation, it has to be denied publicly."

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Mon Aug 28th, 2017 at 02:20:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: US Hezbollah collaboration (none / 0)

laughable.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Aug 28th, 2017 at 04:39:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: US Hezbollah collaboration (none / 0)

And yet this kind of stuff works in keeping stuff out of the general narrative. Even if reported, the onus is always on us as individuals to remember it and bring it up, because the papers that reported it will put it down the memory hole.

Like the endless loop of "stuff happening in Syria" -> "US considers sending arms" while they were sending arms the whole time (and according to recent reports paying the rebels salaries). And still people think that Obama kept out of Syria.

Though that loop appears to be coming to an end what with Assad and the Kurds winning the war against IS (and hopefully continuing peace with each other). Remains to be seen what becomes of the Turkish occupied territories and the last non-IS rebel pockets in the west.

by fjallstrom on Tue Aug 29th, 2017 at 12:28:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Living Off the Planet (none / 0)

LIVING OFF THE PLANET
Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Food

by Bjinse on Mon Aug 14th, 2017 at 06:55:46 PM EST

Re: Living Off the Planet (none / 0)

France-Italy energy link secures hefty EU loan

Terna's "Piedmont-Savoy" 190km interconnector will link northwest Italy with southeast France, between Piossasco and Grande-Île.
[...]
Terna is workingon the underground cable project with its French counterpart, RTE. Total costs are estimated to reach a billion euros.
[...]
Commission funds France-Ireland power link that bypasses UK

source: RES Legal

Support schemes
In Italy, electricity generated from renewable energy sources is promoted through a number of feed-in and premium tariffs as well as a tendering system. Depending on the source and the size, RES-E plant operators may be obliged to opt for a certain system or may choose between the available ones. Electricity may be sold on the free market or through "ritiro dedicato" (purchase by Gestore dei Servizi Elettrici at a guaranteed price). Under certain conditions, electricity producers can make use of "scambio sul posto" (net-metering).

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Aug 15th, 2017 at 04:05:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Living Off the Planet (4.00 / 2)

Commission funds France-Ireland power link that bypasses UK

The European Commission has allocated €4 million to a project that will link the French and Irish electricity grids via an undersea cable. Irish lawmakers have now touted the plan as an "obvious solution" to Ireland's energy reliance on a post-Brexit United Kingdom.The Celtic Interconnector project is a planned 600-km-long undersea electricity cable with a capacity of 700 MW, which will link the southern coast of Ireland with the northwest tip of France.

source:tinypic [RES Legal | comparison tool > results]

Support schemes
In Ireland, electricity from renewable sources was mainly promoted through a feed-in-tariff scheme (REFIT) that operated as a floor price. As of January 2016, there is no support scheme available for renewable energies, pending the introduction of a new support scheme, which is expected to be introduced in 2017-2018. The public consultation on the new scheme is about to be opened.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Aug 15th, 2017 at 04:24:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Living Off the Planet (4.00 / 2)

Biochar shows benefits as manure lagoon cover Science Daily

'A mission for fewer emissions' August 9, 2017 American Society of Agronomy

Summary: Manure is a reality in raising farm animals. Manure can be a useful fertilizer, returning valued nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil for plant growth. But manure has problems. Odor offensiveness, gas emissions, nutrient runoff, and possible water pollution are just a few. New methods may reduce these negatives while potentially adding some positives: biochar covers.
.....
In addition to the inconvenience of odor, manure can release gases connected to air pollution and climate change. Methane, nitrous oxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide are examples. Scientist Brian Dougherty and colleagues researched methods to reduce these negatives while potentially adding some positives: biochar covers. Biochar is plant matter, such as straw, woody debris, or corn stalks, that has been heated to high temperatures in a low- to no-oxygen environment. The result is a black, carbon-rich material similar to charcoal.
Dougherty says biochar is like a sponge. "Biochar provides a structure with lots of empty pore space" he says. "The outer surface may appear small but the interior surface area is absolutely massive. A few ounces of biochar can have an internal surface area the size of a football field. There is a lot of potential there for holding on to water and nutrients."
In addition to its hidden storage capacity, the surface of the biochar tends to have a chemical charge. This gives biochar the ability to attract and hold nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ions, metals, and other compounds. Biochar can also float (some types more than others). That attribute means it can trap gases at the water's surface.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Aug 16th, 2017 at 03:29:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Living On the Planet (none / 0)

LIVING ON THE PLANET
Society, Culture, History, Information

by Bjinse on Mon Aug 14th, 2017 at 06:55:49 PM EST

Seismologists get to the bottom of how deep Earth's continents go

Earthquake vibrations are revealing just how deep the continents beneath our feet go.
Researchers analyzed seismic waves from earthquakes that have rocked various regions throughout the world, including the Americas, Antarctica and Africa. In almost every place, patterns in these waves indicated a layer of partially melted material between 130 and 190 kilometers underground.
That boundary marks the bottom of continental plates, argue Saikiran Tharimena, a seismologist at the University of Southampton in England, and colleagues. Their finding, reported in the Aug. 11 Science, may help resolve a longtime debate over the thickness of Earth's landmasses.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Aug 16th, 2017 at 03:07:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How We Really Tamed the Dog, A daring experiment builds a new tame species in just 60 years.

re: information, DNA, genetic engineering, epigenic adaptation, domestication

Are the findings applicable to domestication of neandertal and denisovan allele-bearing hominids sap. by homo sap. sap.?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 09:14:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Fake news: you ain't seen nothing yet The Economist

Generating convincing audio and video of fake events

EARLIER this year Françoise Hardy, a French musician, appeared in a YouTube video (see link). She is asked, by a presenter off-screen, why President Donald Trump sent his press secretary, Sean Spicer, to lie about the size of the inauguration crowd. First, Ms Hardy argues. Then she says Mr Spicer "gave alternative facts to that". It's all a little odd, not least because Françoise Hardy (pictured), who is now 73, looks only 20, and the voice coming out of her mouth belongs to Kellyanne Conway, an adviser to Mr Trump.
The video, called "Alternative Face v1.1", is the work of Mario Klingemann, a German artist. It plays audio from an NBC interview with Ms Conway through the mouth of Ms Hardy's digital ghost. The video is wobbly and pixelated; a competent visual-effects shop could do much better. But Mr Klingemann did not fiddle with editing software to make it. Instead, he took only a few days to create the clip on a desktop computer using a generative adversarial network (GAN), a type of machine-learning algorithm. His computer spat it out automatically after being force fed old music videos of Ms Hardy. It is a recording of something that never happened

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Aug 22nd, 2017 at 10:17:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I had thought that we were already further along than this.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Aug 22nd, 2017 at 10:19:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

possibly related innovation
Lip-syncing Obama: New tools turn audio clips into realistic video

German Police Seize Thousands of `Trump' Ecstasy Tablets
Judge Holds Court Can't Force Release of Trump Tax Returns

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Aug 23rd, 2017 at 12:29:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Living On the Planet (4.00 / 2)

Back in the late '70s, the last time I was involved in new electronic circuit design, I saw an article, perhaps in Electronics Design magazine, that described a chip that was, essentially, an analog of the human vocal tract. By feeding audio of a given person speaking over and over a set of parameters could be derivied and, IIRCC, stored in programmable read only memory, be used in conjunction with the chip to render speech from text input that sounded like the person who had been analyzed.

A few years later I had designed and installed a board room AV system for an LA based petroleum company headed by a well known philanthropist/business man/art collector. This system was used for board room meetings, some of which were confidential, so I was sent out to the hall, which was lined with the CEO's Renaissance paintings. While out there one time the CEO was in a telephone booth being importuned by relatives to attend a wedding. (I had really no place to go where I could not hear.)

I thought about that, the veneration and the avidity of the descendents and relatives for the advice, etc. of the 'great man', and then of the artificial vocal tract. At that time we were just starting to get AI expert systems. So I conceived of a product:

THE VOICE OF (FILL IN THE BLANK)

With the artificial vocal tract and the AI program I could offer the very wealthy a product that would allow their descendants to avail themselves of the wisdom of their ancestor. I described this joke system to another small enterprise CEO with whom I had worked to develop the Digital Editor for the 3M Digital Audio Mastering System. I told him: "The marketing plan is simplicity itself! A direct appeal to the vanity of the rich! He said "You had better be careful."

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Aug 23rd, 2017 at 02:11:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rare coin found (none / 0)

JTA

An 8-year-old Israeli girl found a rare coin from the Second Temple period.
The half-shekel coin dates from a time when it was used to pay a yearly Temple tax, archaeologist Zachi Dvira told The Times of Israel. The custom is prescribed in the Torah (Exodus 30:11-16).
Hallel Halevy discovered the coin in May when she was picking up her sister from kindergarten in the Halamish settlement in the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported. On Wednesday, she gave the coin to the archaeological department of the Israeli body that coordinates government activities in the West Bank, as required by law.
After Halevy told her father about the find, he contacted a local professor, Zohar Amar of Bar-Ilan University. Amar conducted some research and was able to identify the find as a half-shekel coin that he believes was made in 66-70 C.E.

It was actually a souvenir from the Israel Museum....

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Mon Aug 28th, 2017 at 08:33:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

On This Date (none / 0)

ON THIS DATE

by Bjinse on Mon Aug 14th, 2017 at 06:55:53 PM EST

People & Klatsch (none / 0)

PEOPLE AND KLATSCH

by Bjinse on Mon Aug 14th, 2017 at 06:56:07 PM EST

Re: People & Klatsch (none / 0)

I think it prudent in consideration of comments about the weakness of EU institutions (supra-national, or federal, constitution joining the several states in common law enforcement) to introduce text of Articles of Confederation, ratified by British American colonies' ("states'") delegates 1777-1781 for your review.

I have postulated elsewhere, contemporary ructions within EU member states as well as evolution and adoption of EP authorities is analogous to historical establishment of a strong central government bureaucracy and common currency among the USA, culminating in a notorious civil war here. Several european politicians have denied this analogy, "United States of Europe". Nonetheless, here you --as well as innerboob spectators in the USA -- feebly grappling competition among signatories to retain "sovereignty" while a bloodless political revolution ripens. The US gov't required some 100 years and trillions of US Treasury income tax authority and revenue, distributed as block grants ("incentives") among the sovereign states, to obviate "consensus" among states' legislators (10th Amd.). The EP is but 30-years-old.

This document, Articles of Confederation, is the precursor of the US Constitution (hegemon) and, like documents governing the first National Assembly of France or Concert of Europe/Congress of Vienna (republic proxy), is seldom acknowledged or referred to anymore by either self-styled nationalist, federalist, or Anti-federalist scholars. However I keep a copy of American Scripture in my stacks to supplement historiagraphies and hagiographies served from Teh Cloud to the insouciant. You may note, the text of the Articles primarily addresses adjudication and severability of commerce and piracy sanctioned by any one state rather than "the united States in congress assembled".

Accordingly, in review, you may evaluate and anticipate controversy within EU social structures as I do from some perspective on perfect unions, not addressed from black histories of "civilization".

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Aug 18th, 2017 at 11:10:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Meddling & Interference: Europe (none / 0)

Goodgracious. Landssakes. O my. Heavenstobetsy!
Erdogan tells Turks in Germany to vote against Merkel
Can he be thinking "heritage" trumps rational self-interest?!

The Citizenship Law of 1999, which was officially taken into effect on January 1, 2000, has facilitated the acquisition of German citizenship for people born outside of Germany, making it available to Turkish immigrants after eight years of legal residence in the country. The law's most innovative provision granted dual citizenship to Turkish-origin children born in Germany; however, by age twenty-three German-born Turks can no longer be dual citizens and must decide whether to keep their German citizenship or the citizenship of their parent's country of birth.[64*]

*Not a link to text of BRD (deprecated), or *.de, legislation.

MEANWHILE interested parties lose the plot...
Sixth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Taxes on Foreign Accounts

FATCA requires foreign banks to report all accounts held by U.S. citizens to the IRS or risk being assessed a 30 percent withholding tax. Willful failure to file a foreign bank account report invites a penalty [ASSESSED ON THE FOREIGN BANK] of 50 percent of the value of the account or $100,000, whichever is greater.

< wipes tears >

the Sixth Circuit affirmed Judge Rose's decision Friday, finding that the plaintiffs have no standing to challenge FATCA.

in merica, contrary to legend and commonsensical appearances of a "crime" or "conspiracy" to commit a crime, unless U R a suspect trrst i.e. colored person, alleged intention i.e. pre-crime does has not and never will obtain standing to litigate. Enactment and application of every law is retrospective as it should be; that is plaintiff must have suffered an actual, factual, and material injury, or "loss", before any petition for remedy e.g. capital punishment may be addressed in a court. Rule of Atty #4. Amen.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 03:43:14 AM EST

Rule of Atty #1: never offer any information. (5th Amd.)

Book it, Frank.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 03:47:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Also I have mentioned elsewhere, there are only three plots in all history, oral, literary, and "scientific":

BIRTH, DEATH, UNION

obscured by dressings called "narrative".

Pls make a note of it.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 04:08:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Meddling & Interference: Europe (4.00 / 2)

"I am calling on all my countrymen in Germany: the Christian Democrats, SDP, the Green Party are all enemies of Turkey. Support those political parties who are not enemies of Turkey," he said in comments after Friday prayers in Istanbul.

The ultimate insult to the FDP - he doesn't even think they are worth mentioning....

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 04:49:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

"Enactment and application of every law is retrospective as it should be; that is plaintiff must have suffered an actual, factual, and material injury, or "loss", before any petition for remedy e.g. capital punishment may be addressed in a court."

So I can only appeal a death sentence after it has been carried out?

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 09:25:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Meddling &amp; Interference: Europe (none / 0)

Maybe in Ireland.

In the USA,the convicted person doesn't "appeal" the sentence. The convict's complaint addresses the injury (certain death) resulting from defective "due process" at trial e.g. errors in findings of fact (evidence) or findings of law (procedure) that preclude an exculpatory verdict. The remedy sought is a new trial.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 12:35:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

No death penalty (none / 0)

We don't have the death penalty in Ireland. Court injunctions can be sought against parties whose current or intended actions could be damaging or prejudicial to a plaintiff to prevent the harm actually occurring. Appeals to a higher court can be against either or both conviction and sentence on points of fact or law..

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sat Aug 19th, 2017 at 01:41:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No death penalty (none / 0)

I was waiting for this < wipes tears > the minute after I posted an axiomatic answer (appeal of verdict) to a specific, hypothetical injury, capital punishment.

First, permit me to rephrase cause of action, an axiom of US law enforcement: Any punishment, either "certain death <b, detention, or economic penalty</b>" ordered by the state is never a crime. To the contrary, sentencing is justice served, man.

The crime is alleged error(s) committed, or admitted, by the state [!] in administering due process (codified by each state and the federal gov't.) for which plaintiff seeks remedy from the state [!] for losses of innocence and liberties ... such as life.

But you've got some M.O., Frank. Some might call it "moving goal post."

So, second, permit me to I commend the constitution of the Republic of Ireland as you will. For a mere five (5) of fifty republics, commonly known as the "united States" prohibit capital punishment. Look upon leader of the "free world" and "greatest purveyor of violence" with wonder.

I look forward to learning anything about procedures of law enforcement and litigation in Ireland.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 01:19:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ERRATA (none / 0)

a mere nineteen, inc. moratoria, twenty inc. the D.C., potentially zero wherever DoJ joins prosecution of federal law and sentencing.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 01:27:27 PM EST
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Re: No death penalty (none / 0)

I am not a lawyer, and my interest in Justice in Ireland is focused on restorative justice. So, alas, I am not well equipped to brief you on matters of justice in Ireland more generally. But you may find the linked article of interest.

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 03:01:29 PM EST
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Re: No death penalty (none / 1)

Thank you for that information.

I sympathize with you and all people who endeavor and have endeavored with word and deed to alter the course of injustice where found in law --the code of socially acceptable and socially unacceptable behaviors.

This penance 'bout broke my heart: "1. Writing about who was affected by their actions and how, what they have learned from their experience and what they would do differently in a similar situation in future...." Were you to enter a sentencing hearing in any parts of the US criminal court, you'd hear the same pleas. And all too often the same, ruthless response from the penitentiaries.

Redeem Yourself

Histories, tragedies, discretion and mercy, states' budgets, charitable donations, volunteer and paid hours are littered with such experiments to test that common wisdom and common law of justice that harbors nothing but retribution demanded by the "offender's" peers, the society from which he or she emerges. As if they'd no guilt --responsibility for-- the creation, violation, and consequences of the laws which bind them.

Make Me Whole

I commend you for accepting those responsibilities in a manner that repairs the dignity of the convicted and may enjoin the anger of the plaintiffs with reconciliation that this remedy offers them. It ought to be sufficient punishment tied to the inevitable loss of liberty this discipline requires to restore peaceful society. (But here we are, quibbling how much is too much interest added to principal borrowed.)

That is after all the purpose of law, is it not?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 07:44:11 PM EST
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Rule of Atty #4 (none / 1)

(This one erupted from my brother. < wipes tears > One for the ages.)

The purpose of law is to facilitate business.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Sun Aug 20th, 2017 at 08:00:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]