The world has never witnessed a greater fighting force. This is their lives. They don't peace, but, they long for it.

This is the kind of film that should be recognized for greatness at Cannes. There is only one word that describes this very special club, poignant.

I am more than happy this film was made. These are great people with a unique culture that knows no defeat.

May 20, 2016
By Peter Bradshaw

Taking the fight to Isis ... Peshmerga

Veteran French (click here) intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy was granted a late entry in the official Cannes selection with his absorbing and very well photographed documentary tribute to the peshmerga, the fighting force of the Kurds, battling to establish the state of Kurdistan across the existing states of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey - and now the west’s newest best friends, our allies in the fight against Isis, or Daesh. Lévy’s film is here to remind us that Isis is not simply being fought by the cynics Assad or Putin.

Lévy and his crew travel with the peshmerga northwest along enemy lines – though never behind these lines, in enemy territory – across Iraq towards the Sinjar mountains, the site of a brutal Isis massacre in 2014. There is some gripping and scary battle footage, and with camera drones, Lévy gets some breathtaking birds-eye view shots of the cities and plains....

The Kurds have never known peace. The closest they have come to it was the No Fly Zone while Saddam was in power.

May 16, 2016

By Elizabeth McLaughlin

The fighters that ISIS (click here) fears the most wear lipstick, according to these troops. Some even let their long, braided hair fall out behind their hats.

They are the female members of the Zeravani unit, a branch of the Kurdish peshmerga.

The typically female attributes shouldn't detract from the fact that these women are prepared to defend their land from any invader, including ISIS.

Female Yazidi and Kurdish Soldiers Fight Back Against ISIS

ABC News met up with some of the Zeravani women during their training at a Kurdish base outside of Erbil, Iraq....

It starts on Page 13. This jet has all kinds of buzzers, but, no fire containment.

Fire Protection (OM II 8) (click here)

Both engines and the APU each have two identical loops, A & B and a computer-FDU (Fire Detection Unit). A fire warning is given when both loops reach the proper overheat condition. If one loop fails the other loop is able to generate the warning by itself. A fire warning is given if both loops fail within 5 seconds of each other. There is a red disc on the aft fuselage to show thermal discharge for the APU fire bottle. The engines each have two extinguishers, the APU one. Engines have sensing elements in three sections; pylon nacelle, engine core and fan section. APU has sensing element in APU compartment....

 ...Total Fuel –A319/320: 42,000 lbs....

My mistake. From Facebook Pilots cite. 

Airbus A320 Pilots (click here)

October 25, 2012 ·

If there is an APU fire in flight the APU:
a. Will automatically shut down and the fire bottle will discharge.
b.Must be shut down manually and the agent manually discharged.
c. Must be shut down manually but the fire bottle will discharge automatically.

There are to many guns on the street, There are also too many drugs on the street. The two usually go hand in hand.

Gun regulation doesn't mean depriving responsible gun owners from enjoying the sport of hunting or shooting.

There was a shooter at the White House today. That doesn't mean anything?

Hillary needs to go to a shooting range and enjoy the sport to prove the guns aren't going to be removed from the country.

More extremism regarding guns isn't good for the country. It also is not true.

July 2, 2013
By Stephanie Condon

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., (click here) is reigniting her push for a federal law expanding background checks on gun purchases but with a strong emphasis on the idea that gun owners like herself should get behind stronger regulations.
To kick off her seven-day "Rights and Responsibilities Tour" on Monday, Giffords visited a shooting range in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I am taking this week to pay tribute to the Second Amendment -- both the rights it bestows and the responsibilities it requires," Giffords wrote in a USA Today op-ed published late Monday. "In these divisive political times, gun safety and gun rights are too often pitted against each other. But Americans can meet in the middle. Now all we need is for our elected leaders to meet us there."...

I am quite sure the shooter than President Obama was inside the White House. He walked up to a guarded security gate. That shooter was going inside if he had to kill and/or wound everyone along the way.

This wasn't the first time bullets were a threat to the White House. A window washer found bullet holes in the windows at the baloney. It was the very balcony where Hillary Clinton liked to have tea and answer correspondence. There are too many guns on the street in the hands of people that should not have them.

May 20, 2016
By Peter Hermann, Clarence Williams and Fenit Nirappli

A uniformed Secret Service officer shot (click here) and critically wounded a man who brandished a gun outside the White House Friday afternoon, according to several law enforcement officials.

Police officials said the man approached a security gate and was shot after he was told to drop the gun and refused, according to two law enforcement officials. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital. Two officials said he had been shot in the chest.
Two officials said federal agents with bomb sniffing dogs were searching the suspected gunman’s vehicle near 17th Street and Constitution Avenue. Authorities found ammunition for a .22 caliber weapon, two law enforcement officials said....

The Republican Party can't govern. They haven't governed for a long time now. They know how to pander to cronies, but, govern? When?

Donald Trump achieved his nomination without one big money donor. The only fund raising he conducted went to Veterans' organizations. Don't Republicans learn anything? No wonder they are an endangered species, they are hardwired to corruption.

The Republican Party, if that is it's name in the future, is not going back in time. This permanent change. Hopefully, the new political content grows into their power and a loyalty to the people rather than Wall Street.

A man that raises millions of dollars for Veterans' organizations has a heart for the people. The Republican Party was removed by the Tea Party. This is only the beginning.

No one can see that? The Republican Party hasn't existed since 2008. The only time Bush's Republican Party won seats was in off year elections because the voter turnout was down. Rove didn't win one seat in 2012. The facts are the facts.

The reason the USA would not be in Iraq if Donald Trump was elected President instead of Al Gore, was because Iraq was never a problem with September 11, 2001. The thought of invading a country that had nothing to do with September 11th won't occur.

Al Gore would not have invaded Iraq either. There was no reason to do it.

Iraq's oil is what was coveted. Dick Cheney needed to end the lawsuit filed against him by Halliburton. Halliburton received the contracts and there was no long litigable reason to pursue Cheney.

Imagine that, no Daesh, no instability.

Saddam would have been removed through effort by the UN to stand trial for the deaths of 50 thousand Shia and mass graves of Kurds. But, it would not need a war to extract him to the Hague or simply exile him from Iraq.

This video includes violent scenes and graphic language. (click here) It has been condensed from its original length but is otherwise unaltered. On Nov. 20, 2015, Chase Sherman was handcuffed and stunned with a Taser by two Coweta County, Ga., sheriff's deputies responding to a 911 call from his parents. He died at the scene. The body cameras worn by the deputies captured the episode.

Obviously the people in the car received more than they expected. Perhaps that is the real lesson. Police are worthless when the behavior of the person involved is not criminal.

Most people don't understand the electricity delivered by a taser.

...Physiological (click here) - When fired Taser delivers a sequence of very short high voltage pulses that result in the loss of voluntary muscle control causing the subject to fall to the ground or freeze. In the X26 the voltage peaks at 50,000 volts and when it reaches the body it is substantially less. The volts are responsible for delivering the amps. Taser runs off 0.0021 amps at average performance. 

To explain this in simple terms, volts deliver the amps to where they need to go. If you take the analogy of water flowing through a hose, the AMPS are the water and the volts are the hose. 

Amps can vary in size, to put this into context no more than 13 amps are needed to power a kettle. 32 amps are usually found running around a typical house. Two to three amps are enough to cause a person some harm. Taser runs on considerably less at 0.0021 amps....

That is probably more than most folks understand about electrical shocks. The police in this video over reacted to the person in the car. Let me say this to clarify the wrongful actions of the police. The other people in the car were screaming to stop using the taser. 

AND

There was no threat to the police, there were several of them and the victim had handcuffs on. The people in the car including the victim were unarmed.

Fridays (the end of the work week) are probably a good day to review information I am looking for to assist with the Flint Water Crisis. I wrote five letters about two weeks ago because there was no information available to me through the local public library or the state library. Needless to say these are specific records I am looking for. To date I have not received a response, but, that is not unusual for this type of information.

I know the problems Flint is having are completely unjustified. Everyone concerned will keep their oars in the water and pulling to resolve the issue. I remain optimistic everyone involved will provide a good outcome for Flint.

Should the state library have the information I am looking for? It would nice and there are methods to have a file for these facts, but, libraries not only run on what should be kept, but, also on floor space and future needs. Today, many large libraries, public or private, have online access to professional records and journals. That was unheard of about a decade ago. The libraries prided themselves on owning the materials which added to their net worth. Today, the budget of these magnificent libraries require they only keep what is necessary and share resources and online communities of libraries that subscribe to such information. 

But, in the case of what I am looking for, the state library could have space for it. However, the libraries would view that information as best kept by others because it is a rare request.

I anticipate receiving the information.

May 19, 2016
By A. J. Burnett

Boston —There are many definitions (click here) for the term "blue moon." This weekend's full moon will be an "old school blue moon."

According to the Maine Farmer's Almanac, a "blue moon" was originally defined as the third of four full moons in one season. Typically, seasons only have three full moons. This year, there are four full moons in spring, and the third occurs this weekend, on Saturday.
The next blue moon, according to this older definition, won't occur until May 18, 2019.
A new definition came into play when an article appeared in Sky and Telescope Magazine in March of 1946. Author James Hugh Pruett mistakenly defined a blue moon as the second of two full moons appearing in the same month, which also happens more commonly. This is the more popular definition used today.
The next blue moon, according to the new definition, occurs on Jan. 31, 2018.

President Rousseff of Brazil states the country's oligarchs are behind the impeach.

...DR: I’m fairly optimistic. (click here) I keep fighting not only to remain President, but also – and first and foremost – for the democratic rights in my country. To tell you the truth, I don’t intend to stay cooped up in my official residence, the Alvorada Palace. I want to go to many Brazilian cities and meet many people. This way I can tell Brazil, and maybe even the entire world, about what’s really going on in the country and how we intend to counter what we believe is a coup attempt....

She states there were no crimes committed that would justify an impeachment. She believes this is a coup of the democratic government of Brazil.

President Rousseff states the foreign petroleum industry is behind the coup. They want the country's oil fields.

Fifty-one percent of Israeli Jews saw Yaalon as best suited for defense minister

There is a shake up taking place within the Israeli government. Some citizens there are worried about it. 

May 20, 2016
Be Seerat Chabba

Israel Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (click here) announced his resignation Friday, citing lack of faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhayu. The announcement came after Netanyahu proposed to replace him with a political ally in order to expand the coalition government.
There has been no official statement but according to unidentified sources cited by Reuters, the prime minister offered the post to ultra-nationalist politician Avigdor Lieberman Wednesday. If Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party joined the ruling coalition, the government — run by Netanyahu’s Likud party — would have 67 of the parliament’s 120 seats, up from the current 61.
Yaalon said on Twitter (in Hebrew): “I informed the PM that after his conduct and recent developments, and given the lack of faith in him, I am resigning from the government and parliament and taking a break from political life.”
Netanyahu and Yaalon had reportedly clashed this month over the trial of an Israeli soldier who shot dead a wounded Palestinian assailant lying on the ground. Yaalon spoke out against public calls for clemency while Netanyahu took a more reserved position....
...Reports suggest that Yaalon's exit could affect the domestic and Western confidence in the ruling government....

Search ships should be outfitted with sonar.

There is a search methodology that centers the search directly on the spot where the plane entered the water. Then run concentric circles further and further out to cover the Mediterranean Sea 100 percent. the Mediterranean Sea is a closed body of water with few options as to where the jet could be. The entrances and exists of the Mediterranean Sea is very small and the Straits of Gibraltar has rather odd water flow dynamics that would inhibit debris from entering the Atlantic.

The other dynamic that plays into this is the fact the jet is in water. There is movement of debris as I write this. That means as one search ship is moving from the center of the crash there should be another ship that traces those same waters 48 hours later. Basically, finding the jet is retraced 48 hours apart to determine where to look below the water.

The first search vessel leads the way in territory covered while subsequent vessels follows that same search area. They are deployed 48 hours apart and the number of ships needed is dictated by the length of the search.

Ultimately, when the search finds the debris there may be the need of a unmanned sub to determine the debris field.

I took for granted the ships searching have sonar. The USA Navy is right there in Italy. There were no American passengers that would automatically deploy the USA Navy. They may have to be invited to join the search.

The USA has to be prepared through Homeland Security as well as HHS to fight the NEXT virus and complete the eradication of Ebola and Zika.

The way the US House robs Peter to give to Paul reminds me of the person that doesn't finish their medication only to have medication resistant microorganisms.  Why not repurpose funding for the F-35 to fund a program to fight Zika to eradiate the virus.

May 13, 2016
By Phillip Wegmann

Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said: 'This study supports previous research suggesting that the virus can persist in bodily fluids for a long time after recovery.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (click here) has unspent money left over from the fight in 2013 against the Ebola epidemic overseas. But HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell has not deployed that money to combat the coming Zika virus because of what she considers prior commitments.
House Republicans want to repurpose old Ebola money for the new Zika fight. But HHS spokesman Bill Hall told The Daily Signal that, even though the agency technically has $1.46 billion in unobligated funds, the unspent money “has been committed” already.
According to the Government Accountability Office, an administrative commitment is “a reservation of allotted funds, or of other funds, in anticipation of their obligation.” A commitment also may “manifest an intent to expend assets.”
Translated from bureaucratic parlance, that means a government agency has the cash on hand for a specific purpose but hasn’t spent it yet....

The funding for Ebola is already providing returns on the investment. There is still no vaccine. A vaccine is the only guaranteed end of the virus.

May 17, 2016
By Lizzie Parry

Some of the final cases of the deadly Ebola virus (click here) could have been transmitted through breast milk, new research suggests.
The largest analysis to date of the tail-end of the epidemic, which swept through West Africa from late 2013 to 2015, found some of the last cases were passed on via unconventional routes, such as semen and breast milk.
An international team of researchers sequenced Ebola virus genomes in a temporary tent laboratory in Sierra Leone.
Researchers led by the University of Cambridge and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute generated 554 complete Ebola genome sequences from samples of blood, cheek swabs, semen and breast milk....

We have a job to do to guarantee the American people real safety from the Ebola virus.

May 3, 2016
By the German Center of Infection Research

"The results (click here) for tolerability, safety, and the immune response to the vaccine candidate are very promising," explains Prof Marylyn Addo. The antibodies which developed against the virus were still detectable after six months. Addo is convinced, "With this, a single vaccine could provide lasting protection against Ebola." The infectious disease specialist, who works for the German Center for Infection Research at the University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, led the trial in Hamburg. A total of 158 healthy adult volunteers were tested in Hamburg, as well as at the partner sites in Geneva (Switzerland), Lambaréné; (Gabon) and Kilifi (Kenya)....

The spending on Ebola needs to go forward to end the existence of this virus on Earth. I can't imagine the American people conducting research halfway on this virus or the new challenge presented by Zika. The funding has to be there not just for these two virus, but, for the readiness for the future.

These viruses presented a real danger to the lives of Americans within a short period of time. They are very virulent virus and it is reasonable to think there is yet a third strain of another virus on the horizon. The funding to end deadly virus has to be available in anticipation of the next outbreak.

The US House and Senate needs to fund emergency programs both to complete the eradication of these viruses and in anticipation of what is yet to make itself known. The idea monies to prevent and fight disease can be purposed is very dangerous and speaks to the very poor readiness the USA has for Homeland Security.

The US House is turning the funding for Ebola into a deficit to the program to vanquish the disease.

The way the US House robs Peter to give to Paul reminds me of the person that doesn't finish their medication only to have medication resistant microorganisms.  Why not repurpose funding for the F-35 to fund a program to fight Zika to eradiate the virus.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (click here) has unspent money left over from the fight in 2013 against the Ebola epidemic overseas. But HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell has not deployed that money to combat the coming Zika virus because of what she considers prior commitments.
House Republicans want to repurpose old Ebola money for the new Zika fight. But HHS spokesman Bill Hall told The Daily Signal that, even though the agency technically has $1.46 billion in unobligated funds, the unspent money “has been committed” already.
According to the Government Accountability Office, an administrative commitment is “a reservation of allotted funds, or of other funds, in anticipation of their obligation.” A commitment also may “manifest an intent to expend assets.”
Translated from bureaucratic parlance, that means a government agency has the cash on hand for a specific purpose but hasn’t spent it yet....

The funding for Ebola is already providing returns on the investment. There is still no vaccine. A vaccine is the only guaranteed end of the virus.

May 17, 2016
By Lizzie Parry 

Some of the final cases of the deadly Ebola virus (click here) could have been transmitted through breast milk, new research suggests.

The largest analysis to date of the tail-end of the epidemic, which swept through West Africa from late 2013 to 2015, found some of the last cases were passed on via unconventional routes, such as semen and breast milk.

An international team of researchers sequenced Ebola virus genomes in a temporary tent laboratory in Sierra Leone. 

Researchers led by the University of Cambridge and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute generated 554 complete Ebola genome sequences from samples of blood, cheek swabs, semen and breast milk....

We have a job to do to guarantee the American people real safety from the Ebola virus.

"The results (click here) for tolerability, safety, and the immune response to the vaccine candidate are very promising," explains Prof Marylyn Addo. The antibodies which developed against the virus were still detectable after six months. Addo is convinced, "With this, a single vaccine could provide lasting protection against Ebola." The infectious disease specialist, who works for the German Center for Infection Research at the University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE) in Hamburg, led the trial in Hamburg. A total of 158 healthy adult volunteers were tested in Hamburg, as well as at the partner sites in Geneva (Switzerland), Lambaréné; (Gabon) and Kilifi (Kenya)....

The spending on Ebola needs to go forward to end the existence of this virus on Earth. I can't imagine the American people conducting research halfway on this virus or the new challenge presented by Zika. The funding has to be there not just for these two virus, but, for the readiness for the future.

These viruses presented a real danger to the lives of Americans within a short period of time. They are very virulent virus and it is reasonable to think there is yet a third strain of another virus on the horizon. The funding to end deadly virus has to be available in anticipation of the next outbreak. 

The US House and Senate needs to fund emergency programs both to complete the eradication of these viruses and in anticipation of what is yet to make itself known. The idea monies to prevent and fight disease can be purposed is very dangerous and speaks to the very poor readiness the USA has for Homeland Security.