Today is the day! Get your tickets and realize the way government is out of control in the USA. There is no excuse, the film is being shown in over 1700 movie theater across the USA. It is the largest release of a documentary. The theaters ASKED to have the film. This is "a thing."
Flint, Michigan is ground zero of racism. It has to stop. This is more than institutionalized hate, this is punishment for being poor, black and/or old.
The word "odious" means arousing or deserving hatred and repugnance.
From "The Associated Press" via the "Omaha World Herald?" Really? This is definitely a thing.
September 20, 2018
...So, (click here) who is going to help save the nation? Moore argues that it’s first-time candidates, many of them women, or striking teachers in West Virginia, unifying to win key concessions. And it’s student activists in Parkland, Florida.
Finally, Moore makes his most attention-getting argument. He juxtaposes audio from a Trump rally with video of Hitler speaking. He also interviews 99-year-old Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor, who is reduced to tears when speaking of the separation of children from parents at the U.S. border.
“It’s the world in which we live,” Ferencz says, echoing Moore. “We’ve got to change it or perish.”
September 17, 2018
By Eric Kohn
...Over 300 critics and journalists (click here) covering the festival participated this year, and while many of them singled out lower-profile films, some of the most anticipated movies of the year dominated the categories for best film, best documentary, and best performance....
...The best documentary category departed from the fall season buzz that started in Telluride. While the big documentary breakout there was the tense climbing documentary “Free Solo,” it came in second place in the TIFF poll. Michael Moore’s incendiary “Fahrenheit 11/9” topped the category with 19% of the vote, while “Free Solo” came in second place with 10%. Breakout “The Biggest Little Farm,” a Neon acquisition at TIFF about a couple that purchase a farm outside of Los Angeles and deal with a series of setbacks, came in second place with 7%. Other popular non-fiction titles included Errol Morris’ unsettling Steve Bannon portrait “American Dharma” (6%), and the Netflix-produced Quincy Jones profile “Quincy,” which tied with Frederick Wiseman’s “Monrovia, Indiana” in fifth place....
Friday, September 21, 2018
Why do women remain silent?
Why do women who experience sexual assault rarely speak up about it? "Because they fear they won't be believed," says Inés Hercovich. "Because when a woman tells what happened to her, she tells us things we can't imagine, things that disturb us, things we don't expect to hear, things that shock us." In this moving talk, she takes us inside an encounter with sexual assault to give us a clearer idea of what these situations really look like -- and the difficult choices women make to survive. (In Spanish with English subtitles)
Twenty-five percent of women will be sexually assaulted in their life times.
Dr. Ford needs to tell her experience for all the right reasons, including the fact she would never be believed when it occurred. She needs to expose the truth so other women can come forward when it happens to them. BUT. She needs to tell her experience to tell the justice system they are not empowering women to end the danger.
Twenty-five percent of women will be sexually assaulted in their life times. How many cases are reported and how many are acted on? The statistics don't even come close to 25%. When are women going to be safe? When are they going to be taken seriously when they say, "no?"
Twenty-five percent of women will be sexually assaulted in their life times.
Dr. Ford needs to tell her experience for all the right reasons, including the fact she would never be believed when it occurred. She needs to expose the truth so other women can come forward when it happens to them. BUT. She needs to tell her experience to tell the justice system they are not empowering women to end the danger.
Twenty-five percent of women will be sexually assaulted in their life times. How many cases are reported and how many are acted on? The statistics don't even come close to 25%. When are women going to be safe? When are they going to be taken seriously when they say, "no?"
Definition of Sexual Abuse.
- the engaging in sexual contact with a person who is below a specified age or who is incapable of giving consent because of age or mental or physical incapacity
- the crime of engaging in or inflicting sexual abuse
The images are from the New York Times. (click here)
When a woman is assaulted is her first reaction to call the "National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline? No, that is not the first thing that comes to a woman's mind. More than likely, women don't even know there are such support systems to them. Why? Because they never imagined SOMEONE THEY KNOW would do such a thing.
Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) (click here) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
- Confidential support from a trained staff member
- Support finding a local health facility that is trained to care for survivors of sexual assault and offers services like sexual assault forensic exams
- Someone to help you talk through what happened
- Local resources that can assist with your next steps toward healing and recovery
- Referrals for long term support in your area
- Information about the laws in your community
- Basic information about medical concerns
What is sexual abuse to a woman?
Sexual Abuse Definition. Sexual abuse is any sort of non-consensual sexual contact. Sexual abuse can happen to men or women of any age. Sexual abuse by a partner/intimate can include derogatory name calling, refusal to use contraception, deliberately causing unwanted physical pain during sex, deliberately passing on sexual diseases or infections and using objects, toys, or other items (e.g. baby oil or lubricants) without consent and to cause pain or humiliation.
I hear Kavanaugh's supporters are crying conspiracy. Really? The only conspiracy is the one that effects thousands upon thousands upon thousands of women every year that holds THEM AS THE PERPETRATOR rather than the victim. And how is that relayed to women? Begin with rape kits that are left without processing. Trials that never happen. Dangers that are never averted and THAT IS JUST THE JUDICIAL END OF THE CONSPIRACY.
So, the conspiracy against Kavanaugh doesn't exist, but, there are always those that like to raise the ire of other men and in this case other Republicans that POOR JUDGE KAVANAUGH is the victim to a conspiracy.
That is not the case. The act by a younger Kavanaugh is true and there is one woman that experienced it and it is only she that can tell the horror of that act by Bret Kavanaugh, but, just like any other women that fell victim to sexual assault and abuse she needed to talk about it. She talked to her friends, they talked to others and for several days after the act the talk about Kavanaugh was about his act of aggression against a woman. That is not a conspiracy, that is fact and unfortunately the truth that may or may not make an impression to enough US Senators to realize his view of the world is not the usual and it is laced with privilege.Bret Kavanaugh has no empathy for women and certainly doesn't care about the issues that impact their lives. I don't want to hear how being a coach of a girls team makes him an expert on women and the real life problems they face. That is ludicrous.
Yes, indeed, get your child a good lawyer to get out of the entire mess before it effects his life.
Child on Child Sexual Abuse (click here)
- -Juveniles account for more than one-third (35.6%) of those known to law enforcement to have committed sex offenses against other minors;
- -Child on child sexual abuse is more likely than adult sex offenses to occur in groups and at schools;
- - Child on child sexual abuse tends to involve more male and younger victims;
- - The percentage of child on child sexual abuse is highest between ages 15 and 17;
- - Child on child sexual abuse most often occurs in the home (68% of the time), somewhat less than that of adult sex offenses (80%);
- - Offenses against teenagers are typically higher among mid to late adolescence while offenses against victims under the age of 12 are typically lower;
- - About 1 out of every 8 juvenile offenders is under the age of 12; and
- - Child on child sexual abuse comprises more than one-quarter (25.8%) of all sex offenses.
Those who have been identified as having committed child on child sexual abuse cover a broad age range:
- 5% are under the age of 9 years;
- 16% are less than 12 years old;
- 38% are between ages of 12 and 14;
- 46% are between ages 15 and 17; and
- 93% are male.
- 5% are under the age of 9 years;
- 16% are less than 12 years old;
- 38% are between ages of 12 and 14;
- 46% are between ages 15 and 17; and
- 93% are male.
Jessica was 100% my very best friend.
USA Today has a very compelling article that appeared yesterday about the lack of care the medical profession has toward pregnant women.
This article convinced me American women are second class citizens.
One of the compelling and repeated prologue to these women's deaths was pain. They were experiencing and correctly went to the emergency room and were dismissed as some kind of pain because of contractions of one kind or another; but; their body systems were failing on them. Kidneys and liver are frequently mentioned. There is no excuse for this. Simple blood tests at the time the pain was occurring would have picked up the failure of a complete body system and sometimes more than one body system was failing. It has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH A WOMAN'S BEHAVIOR when it comes to smoking and drinking.
One of the compelling and repeated prologue to these women's deaths was pain. They were experiencing and correctly went to the emergency room and were dismissed as some kind of pain because of contractions of one kind or another; but; their body systems were failing on them. Kidneys and liver are frequently mentioned. There is no excuse for this. Simple blood tests at the time the pain was occurring would have picked up the failure of a complete body system and sometimes more than one body system was failing. It has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH A WOMAN'S BEHAVIOR when it comes to smoking and drinking.
September 20, 2018
By Laura Unger
...In Louisiana (click here) – the deadliest state in America for pregnant women and new mothers – the state’s 2012 report on maternal deaths emphasized suicide, domestic violence and car crashes....By Laura Unger
One case after another case was completely treatable and those women should be alive today.
Look at California. 0-9 deaths per 100,000 women per year. Every other state in this country should be ashamed because California has a model that works. The actual statistic for California is 4.0 deaths per 100,000 and Nevada comes in at 8.4 deaths per 100,000 women.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS THE HIGHEST DEATH RATE OF ANY ADVANCED FIRST WORLD COUNTRY ON EARTH.
That is not a country that cares about women. OR CHILDREN. If the country cared about children they would make sure their mothers lived through their births.
Recording Trump is THE NORMAL THING TO DO.
How many people is this now? First there is Cohen and Stormy Daniels has proof of all she says about Trump, then there is Omarosa, right?
August 19, 2018
Omarosa Manigault Newman (click here) is good at secretly recording conversations with her employers. She’s a savvy operator who knows how to create a media splash and can trade insults with the best of them — including the president of the Untied States. But, for me, regardless of how I may feel about her reality TV antics, there’s something relatable in her increasingly contentious battle with the White House....
Now, there is Rod Rosenstein recording the craziest president the USA ever had. Amazing. How can all these people feel so threatened by Trump that they fall back on recording his words and deeds?
Wait, let me guess; hmmmm? Could it be because he is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR? I betcha that is it!
The only people that can do anything about it are too busy being greedy to bring about an impeachment of which there are many reasons.
When he retires (click here) in January, Ryan will give up his $223,500 salary as speaker of the house, which is $49,500 more than U.S. congressmen who do not hold leadership positions make. But according to celebritynetworth.com, Ryan is already worth $7.8 million.
...As a candidate, (click here) he’s spent $47.6 million since 1997 and pulled in even more, raising nearly $58.1 million. A large chunk of that money — $19.8 million to be exact — came rolling in the 2016 election.
Coming from a state known as a hub for outside spending, a large portion of Ryan’s funds have come from individual donations. Over the course of his career, he’s received $23.7 million in individual contributions. In 2017, Ryan raised $563,412 from small donations — the seventh highest among House candidates....
The McConnell household is not much different. They are pulling in a cabinet level salary for his wife and the salary of the Senate Majority leader. When are we going to set term limits? Maybe we would get something done if there were term limits rather than allowing the USA's elected officials the opportunity to amass huge wealth and turn their backs on the people.
Did you know that 50% of Millennials are college educated? They are. I am certain they know enough about the government that abandoned them in "Occupy Wall Street" to know what is best for the USA economy. As far as foreign policy; I am confident enough of them have great educations and experiences from abroad to man the battle stations of the State Department.
We need to have our younger generations involved. The Climate Crisis is spinning out of control far to fast to ignore the hopes they have for their lives. It is time for a major changing of the guard.
September 21, 2018
By Adam Goldman and Michael S. Schmidt
August 19, 2018
Omarosa Manigault Newman (click here) is good at secretly recording conversations with her employers. She’s a savvy operator who knows how to create a media splash and can trade insults with the best of them — including the president of the Untied States. But, for me, regardless of how I may feel about her reality TV antics, there’s something relatable in her increasingly contentious battle with the White House....
Now, there is Rod Rosenstein recording the craziest president the USA ever had. Amazing. How can all these people feel so threatened by Trump that they fall back on recording his words and deeds?
Wait, let me guess; hmmmm? Could it be because he is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR? I betcha that is it!
When he retires (click here) in January, Ryan will give up his $223,500 salary as speaker of the house, which is $49,500 more than U.S. congressmen who do not hold leadership positions make. But according to celebritynetworth.com, Ryan is already worth $7.8 million.
...As a candidate, (click here) he’s spent $47.6 million since 1997 and pulled in even more, raising nearly $58.1 million. A large chunk of that money — $19.8 million to be exact — came rolling in the 2016 election.
Coming from a state known as a hub for outside spending, a large portion of Ryan’s funds have come from individual donations. Over the course of his career, he’s received $23.7 million in individual contributions. In 2017, Ryan raised $563,412 from small donations — the seventh highest among House candidates....
The McConnell household is not much different. They are pulling in a cabinet level salary for his wife and the salary of the Senate Majority leader. When are we going to set term limits? Maybe we would get something done if there were term limits rather than allowing the USA's elected officials the opportunity to amass huge wealth and turn their backs on the people.
Did you know that 50% of Millennials are college educated? They are. I am certain they know enough about the government that abandoned them in "Occupy Wall Street" to know what is best for the USA economy. As far as foreign policy; I am confident enough of them have great educations and experiences from abroad to man the battle stations of the State Department.
We need to have our younger generations involved. The Climate Crisis is spinning out of control far to fast to ignore the hopes they have for their lives. It is time for a major changing of the guard.
September 21, 2018
By Adam Goldman and Michael S. Schmidt
Washington — The deputy attorney general, (click here) Rod J. Rosenstein, suggested last year that he secretly record President Trump in the White House to expose the chaos consuming the administration, and he discussed recruiting cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Mr. Trump from office for being unfit.
Mr. Rosenstein made these suggestions in the spring of 2017 when Mr. Trump’s firing of James B. Comey as F.B.I. director plunged the White House into turmoil. Over the ensuing days, the president divulged classified intelligence to Russians in the Oval Office, and revelations emerged that Mr. Trump had asked Mr. Comey to pledge loyalty and end an investigation into a senior aide.
Mr. Rosenstein was just two weeks into his job. He had begun overseeing the Russia investigation and played a key role in the president’s dismissal of Mr. Comey by writing a memo critical of his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But Mr. Rosenstein was caught off guard when Mr. Trump cited the memo in the firing, and he began telling people that he feared he had been used.
Mr. Rosenstein made the remarks about secretly recording Mr. Trump and about the 25th Amendment in meetings and conversations with other Justice Department and F.B.I. officials. Several people described the episodes, insisting on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The people were briefed either on the events themselves or on memos written by F.B.I. officials, including Andrew G. McCabe, then the acting bureau director, that documented Mr. Rosenstein’s actions and comments....
A beautiful mind.
"Won't you be my neighbor?" (click here)
Today, Google's tribute is Fred Rogers. I am really glad American children had Mr. Rogers for so many years and his taped shows will continue to inspire good ideas in children.
Thank you, Google.
Today, Google's tribute is Fred Rogers. I am really glad American children had Mr. Rogers for so many years and his taped shows will continue to inspire good ideas in children.
Thank you, Google.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
This is not a criminal trial.
By some of the reports in the media, social and otherwise, it appears there are lawyers threatening those that discuss the sexual assault on Dr. Ford. The people that know her and her reporting of the assault as a young woman can absolutely discuss their experience with her and the days of talk among the other students.
This is not a criminal trial. There is no proving it beyond any doubt. It took a lot of effort to try Bill Cosby because of the time that past. This is no different.
There are facts about this circumstance with Dr. Ford. She is esteemed, well educated and has a family. She is doing the right thing for the country. Those that know her reporting long ago have an obligation to report what they know. The truth about her and her character then and now. EVERYONE with any knowledge of the events needs to come forward and report the truth. No one can be personally sued for telling the truth.
This country is important, too. This about the country that our daughters and granddaughters will inherit.
SPEAK UP and don’t stop talking.
This is not a criminal trial. There is no proving it beyond any doubt. It took a lot of effort to try Bill Cosby because of the time that past. This is no different.
There are facts about this circumstance with Dr. Ford. She is esteemed, well educated and has a family. She is doing the right thing for the country. Those that know her reporting long ago have an obligation to report what they know. The truth about her and her character then and now. EVERYONE with any knowledge of the events needs to come forward and report the truth. No one can be personally sued for telling the truth.
This country is important, too. This about the country that our daughters and granddaughters will inherit.
SPEAK UP and don’t stop talking.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel ran a mission into Syria to end a transfer of very lethal weapons to Hezbollah. It is believed the Russian jet was shot down by Syrian friendly fire killing st least 15 people. The Israeli mission was conducted at a military facility.
Israel has a right to defend itself and this is an ongoing operation to prevent munitions from reaching Hezbollah. So, for as sad an outcome that this is for Russia, these types of strikes against Hezbollah is not unusual.
Why isn’t President Trump taking care of business and standing up for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sure if Israel had it’s way there would be no casualties, but only destroyed weapons to prevent any escalation of the war by Hezbollah.
Why isn’t President Trump taking care of business and standing up for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sure if Israel had it’s way there would be no casualties, but only destroyed weapons to prevent any escalation of the war by Hezbollah.
SEE!
Trump is pushing the US Senate for a Monday VIEWING of Dr. Ford. He is going to say “give me a break,” with a face and body like that how could anyone entertain any kind of assault. Trump backs pediphiles, there is no reason to trust his judgement about anything yet alone the future of American women’s right to there bodies.
Dr. Ford is the victim. The FBI needs to complete their investigation before
Dr. Ford testifies. There is a chance the FBI findings may bring enough information to the Senate Committee to bring about a new reality about Kavanaugh and Dr. Fords’ public testimony won’t be necessary. I am sure this is stressful for her and her family.
Dr. Ford is the victim. The FBI needs to complete their investigation before
Dr. Ford testifies. There is a chance the FBI findings may bring enough information to the Senate Committee to bring about a new reality about Kavanaugh and Dr. Fords’ public testimony won’t be necessary. I am sure this is stressful for her and her family.
This is the reality in the USA. The deaths are currently at 32 Americans.
Wilmington is surrounded by water and it's electricity is out. That is very dangerous. Sanitation becomes difficult for people and potable water will be in demand to bring high prices. These are not peaceful conditions. If people become desperate they will seek to solve their problems. The idea of boat flotillas should be entertained to bring back food and water and water filters if this isn't resolving. The waters have to recede. Electricity could be out for several weeks.
In western North Carolina, there were mudslides. I have never heard of such things in North Carolina before. A state can't address these problems alone. These are enormous, but, remember if the USA had addressed the climate crisis as it should have, it would not be happening year after year. The country can no longer postpone a movement to address it's greenhouse gas emissions. The price of ignoring it is too high.
September 17, 2018
By John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortez
Storm-weary residents of North Carolina (click here) struggled Monday to loosen the grip of Florence, the lingering killer that has closed more than 100 roads, cut off power to almost 500,000 homes and businesses and essentially cut off the city of Wilmington from the world.
At least 32 people in the Carolinas have died in the storm's wreckage, including a 1-year-old boy ripped from his mother's arms by the raging waters of a flooded creek. Two dozen of the deaths were in North Carolina, according to state officials and emergency workers.
"This is an epic storm that is still continuing," Gov. Roy Cooper said. "The rivers are still rising. This is a monumental disaster for North Carolina."
Wilmington, a coastal city of 120,000, has been deluged by 2 feet of rain since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Most traffic lights were out and homes dark. Flooding could get worse – the Cape Fear River was forecast to crest Tuesday....
In western North Carolina, there were mudslides. I have never heard of such things in North Carolina before. A state can't address these problems alone. These are enormous, but, remember if the USA had addressed the climate crisis as it should have, it would not be happening year after year. The country can no longer postpone a movement to address it's greenhouse gas emissions. The price of ignoring it is too high.
September 17, 2018
By John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortez
Storm-weary residents of North Carolina (click here) struggled Monday to loosen the grip of Florence, the lingering killer that has closed more than 100 roads, cut off power to almost 500,000 homes and businesses and essentially cut off the city of Wilmington from the world.
At least 32 people in the Carolinas have died in the storm's wreckage, including a 1-year-old boy ripped from his mother's arms by the raging waters of a flooded creek. Two dozen of the deaths were in North Carolina, according to state officials and emergency workers.
"This is an epic storm that is still continuing," Gov. Roy Cooper said. "The rivers are still rising. This is a monumental disaster for North Carolina."
Wilmington, a coastal city of 120,000, has been deluged by 2 feet of rain since Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Most traffic lights were out and homes dark. Flooding could get worse – the Cape Fear River was forecast to crest Tuesday....
Kim Jung Un needs to speak before the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Before I address Un's focus; Israel knows everything that occurs near their borders. If Israel states their jets were back in Israeli airspace when the Russian jet was shot down, then Israel's jets were back in their own airspace. I am sure Israel has proof of that.
If Israeli jets were in Syrian airspace for some reason, the missile might have been intended for them and instead met with a Russian jet.
The fact of the matter is Syria's war has gone on for so long the militaries within that country don't even remember what the mission is, especially with a migration of militias in the area. Assad needs to end the killing. This has to stop in some manner, otherwise, it will go on forever. Currently, Syria is a failed state.
The countries in the region came together to end Daesh, I suggest they can do the same to end the continued tragedy that is Syria. The countries including Israel and Iran need to plan a summit to bring an end to the killing in Syria and imagine a plan that can provide for Syria's people to return to farm and sell their merchandise and begin lives dedicated to peace.
Kindly remember when George W. Bush wanted to rebuild Iraq there were many that came forward for that purpose as well. Syria, if peace among all it's people is it's goal, should receive no less a plan to secure the country for peace and prosperity for the Syrian people.
But, as to the ambitions of Kim Jung Un; he would like what most every other country would like and that is disarmament of all nuclear powers, including that of the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council.
Having the Supreme Leader of North Korea travel to the United Nations and speak to the General Assembly and Security Council to begin enforcement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty could begin a solid commitment to do so. The Treaty was supposed to ultimately end the existence of nuclear weapons in the world. In addition, there is another document calling for exactly that.
July 7, 2017
By Rick Gladstone
A photograph released by the North Korean state news agency in May is said to show the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, in a white shirt, watching a weapons test at an undisclosed location. Mr. Kim is threatening a nuclear-tipped missile strike on American soil.
For the first time in the seven-decade effort to avert a nuclear war, (click here) a global treaty has been negotiated that proponents say would, if successful, lead to the destruction of all nuclear weapons and forever prohibit their use.
Negotiators representing two-thirds of the 192-member United Nations finalized the 10-page treaty this week after months of talks.
The document, called the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was formally adopted on Friday at United Nations headquarters in New York during the final session of the negotiation conference.
It will be open for signature by any member state starting on Sept. 20 during the annual General Assembly and would enter into legal force 90 days after being ratified by 50 countries....
I do not doubt the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un will disarm from nuclear weapons, but, with reservations until the rest of the nuclear missiles in the world are destroyed. His greatest hurdle is going to be the five permanent nuclear nations. The ones that will be most belligerent are China and especially Russia.
See, Russia's conventional forces are not up to the capacity of the USA. One can say it is laziness by its leaders in that the country because it relies on nuclear brinkmanship to even protect its sovereignty.
China is a new player in the world. I believe China prides itself on the five-year plans for the country and sees the future as an economic boom for the Chinese people. China is an honorable country that has even made remarkable plans to end the greenhouse gas emissions. But, would China disarm from it's current nuclear capacity? Perhaps, but, not until it also felt confident it's conventional weapons were more than sufficient to end any western aggression. If China were comfortable with it's ability for a national defense, perhaps Russia would as well. Russia and China are steadfast allies.
Kim Jong Un is a young leader. He has many hopes for his children and I am sure one is to end the threat of nuclear weapons in the world. I do not believe he wants war of any kind, but, the smaller nuclear nations will be reluctant as well. They see the five permanent nuclear countries as a threat that cannot be ignored. Dr. Khan did not do the world any favors by exporting Pakistani nuclear technology.
On the other hand, France was contemplating the end of their nuclear weapons until this past year when it reversed it's course and kept their program alive. I would suggest Kim Jong Un may have a strong partner in pursuing the end to nuclear weapons in the world by building a strong friendship with France in that pursuit. I believe France's commitment along with North Korea's commitment would bring about a new day in nuclear non-proliferation. The majority of the world would like to see it happen; it is about time it did.
As to the US. It needs to include non-proliferation in it's politics. The politics of the USA is far to violent and it is not based in fact or reality. The politics of the USA has to return to domestic peace, ending gun violence, educating its children to be highly ranked in the world and ending the threat of the Climate Crisis. The southeast USA where Republicans have strongholds just received a strong storm that devastated those states. If the Climate Crisis is not evident between last year and this year, then the politics are too toxic to serve the people and the people need to change their ways. If the rest of the world is talking peace and non-proliferation; the USA's politics are not at all based in fact and the people need to finally come to terms with it's violent culture.
September 19, 2018
- Kim Jung Un (click here) promises to visit Seoul and dismantle nuclear facility 'if the U.S. takes similar steps': North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in signed a joint declaration which includes a promise to permanently dismantle North Korea nuclear missile plants. The United States, Kim Jong Un demanded, has to agree to end hostilities.
If Israeli jets were in Syrian airspace for some reason, the missile might have been intended for them and instead met with a Russian jet.
The fact of the matter is Syria's war has gone on for so long the militaries within that country don't even remember what the mission is, especially with a migration of militias in the area. Assad needs to end the killing. This has to stop in some manner, otherwise, it will go on forever. Currently, Syria is a failed state.
The countries in the region came together to end Daesh, I suggest they can do the same to end the continued tragedy that is Syria. The countries including Israel and Iran need to plan a summit to bring an end to the killing in Syria and imagine a plan that can provide for Syria's people to return to farm and sell their merchandise and begin lives dedicated to peace.
Kindly remember when George W. Bush wanted to rebuild Iraq there were many that came forward for that purpose as well. Syria, if peace among all it's people is it's goal, should receive no less a plan to secure the country for peace and prosperity for the Syrian people.
But, as to the ambitions of Kim Jung Un; he would like what most every other country would like and that is disarmament of all nuclear powers, including that of the five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council.
Having the Supreme Leader of North Korea travel to the United Nations and speak to the General Assembly and Security Council to begin enforcement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty could begin a solid commitment to do so. The Treaty was supposed to ultimately end the existence of nuclear weapons in the world. In addition, there is another document calling for exactly that.
By Rick Gladstone
A photograph released by the North Korean state news agency in May is said to show the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, in a white shirt, watching a weapons test at an undisclosed location. Mr. Kim is threatening a nuclear-tipped missile strike on American soil.
For the first time in the seven-decade effort to avert a nuclear war, (click here) a global treaty has been negotiated that proponents say would, if successful, lead to the destruction of all nuclear weapons and forever prohibit their use.
Negotiators representing two-thirds of the 192-member United Nations finalized the 10-page treaty this week after months of talks.
The document, called the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was formally adopted on Friday at United Nations headquarters in New York during the final session of the negotiation conference.
It will be open for signature by any member state starting on Sept. 20 during the annual General Assembly and would enter into legal force 90 days after being ratified by 50 countries....
I do not doubt the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un will disarm from nuclear weapons, but, with reservations until the rest of the nuclear missiles in the world are destroyed. His greatest hurdle is going to be the five permanent nuclear nations. The ones that will be most belligerent are China and especially Russia.
See, Russia's conventional forces are not up to the capacity of the USA. One can say it is laziness by its leaders in that the country because it relies on nuclear brinkmanship to even protect its sovereignty.
China is a new player in the world. I believe China prides itself on the five-year plans for the country and sees the future as an economic boom for the Chinese people. China is an honorable country that has even made remarkable plans to end the greenhouse gas emissions. But, would China disarm from it's current nuclear capacity? Perhaps, but, not until it also felt confident it's conventional weapons were more than sufficient to end any western aggression. If China were comfortable with it's ability for a national defense, perhaps Russia would as well. Russia and China are steadfast allies.
Kim Jong Un is a young leader. He has many hopes for his children and I am sure one is to end the threat of nuclear weapons in the world. I do not believe he wants war of any kind, but, the smaller nuclear nations will be reluctant as well. They see the five permanent nuclear countries as a threat that cannot be ignored. Dr. Khan did not do the world any favors by exporting Pakistani nuclear technology.
On the other hand, France was contemplating the end of their nuclear weapons until this past year when it reversed it's course and kept their program alive. I would suggest Kim Jong Un may have a strong partner in pursuing the end to nuclear weapons in the world by building a strong friendship with France in that pursuit. I believe France's commitment along with North Korea's commitment would bring about a new day in nuclear non-proliferation. The majority of the world would like to see it happen; it is about time it did.
As to the US. It needs to include non-proliferation in it's politics. The politics of the USA is far to violent and it is not based in fact or reality. The politics of the USA has to return to domestic peace, ending gun violence, educating its children to be highly ranked in the world and ending the threat of the Climate Crisis. The southeast USA where Republicans have strongholds just received a strong storm that devastated those states. If the Climate Crisis is not evident between last year and this year, then the politics are too toxic to serve the people and the people need to change their ways. If the rest of the world is talking peace and non-proliferation; the USA's politics are not at all based in fact and the people need to finally come to terms with it's violent culture.
September 19, 2018
- Kim Jung Un (click here) promises to visit Seoul and dismantle nuclear facility 'if the U.S. takes similar steps': North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in signed a joint declaration which includes a promise to permanently dismantle North Korea nuclear missile plants. The United States, Kim Jong Un demanded, has to agree to end hostilities.
The FBI needs to continue to address the allegations by Christine Blasey Ford.
I don't want to hear about "the timing." Senator Feinstein received the letter or at least her office did and the letter specifically states Ms. Ford was no to be involved in coming forward. What is a US Senator suppose to do, except, ask the FBI to validate the allegations? The timing has nothing to do with it.
Additionally, Senator Cornyn is demeaning Dr. Ford by saying her allegations are baseless in that there are no specifics. Well, she hasn't testified yet and there hasn't been a complete investigation by the FBI.
The hearing for Ms. Ford should take place after the FBI has investigated the FACTS. If that doesn't happen there will be a circus of all kinds of people coming forward on televisions across the country. People that know Dr. Ford and know the circumstances regarding the assault. They will be speaking to the public to support Dr. Ford's testimony and making fools of the US Senate Judicial Committee. That won't help the tone of the country very much. Do the Republicans actually want that backlash. It sure didn't help Mr. Moore. Ah, but, the voters don't matter to the Republicans until the actual election, so they can railroad the hearing and vote through.
What's the hurry? Scared this might be true and Dr. Ford has facts about Judge Kavanaugh that need to be swept under the carpet?
In all sincerity, it is only Donald Trump that wants Kavanaugh railroaded to confirmation. I don't believe any US Senator on the committee actually wants this to go wrong. I think they want it to go right and have the FACTS before them while testimony is given.
No one knows what the FBI will turn up and the country needs to be protected from any rush to judgment.
I am impressed Dr. Ford has attorneys. I don't recall if Dr. Hill did during the nomination of Clarence Thomas. I believe she represented herself. Dr. Ford obviously is taking this very seriously and everyone should be grateful she is willing to bring about an understanding about Mr. Kavanaugh.
September 18, 2018
By Louie Villalobus
Christine Blasey Ford, (click here) who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, is asking for an FBI investigation before she will agree to testify at a Senate hearing, according to a letter her attorneys sent Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ford's two attorneys sent a letter to Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, saying that Ford has been targeted by "vicious harassment and even death threats" since coming forward with the allegations over the weekend.
"While Dr. Ford’s life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks wrote.
"The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is 'mistaken' and 'mixed up.' While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr. Ford wants to cooperate with the committee and with law enforcement officials."
Ford's attorneys said an FBI investigation "should be the first step in addressing her allegations."...
"A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions," the letter says....
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has completed an investigation into sexual harassment of women.
Climate, Culture and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
Contributors
Description
Over the last few decades, research, activity, and funding has been devoted to improving the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine. In recent years the diversity of those participating in these fields, particularly the participation of women, has improved and there are significantly more women entering careers and studying science, engineering, and medicine than ever before. However, as women increasingly enter these fields they face biases and barriers and it is not surprising that sexual harassment is one of these barriers.
Over thirty years the incidence of sexual harassment in different industries has held steady, yet now more women are in the workforce and in academia, and in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine (as students and faculty) and so more women are experiencing sexual harassment as they work and learn. Over the last several years, revelations of the sexual harassment experienced by women in the workplace and in academic settings have raised urgent questions about the specific impact of this discriminatory behavior on women and the extent to which it is limiting their careers.
Sexual Harassment of Women explores the influence of sexual harassment in academia on the career advancement of women in the scientific, technical, and medical workforce. This report reviews the research on the extent to which women in the fields of science, engineering, and medicine are victimized by sexual harassment and examines the existing information on the extent to which sexual harassment in academia negatively impacts the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women pursuing scientific, engineering, technical, and medical careers. It also identifies and analyzes the policies, strategies and practices that have been the most successful in preventing and addressing sexual harassment in these settings.
The Brookings Institute has already compiled a report on the study and has identified three factors permitting the existence of sexual harassment in academia.
By Dick Startz
...the report has one finding that shocked me....
...the evidence says when it comes to sexual harassment. According to the National Academy: “[Among employees], the academic workplace … has the second highest rate of sexual harassment at 58 percent (the military has the highest rate at 69 percent) when comparing it with military, private sector, and the government, where a broad definition of sexual harassment is used.”...
- Power and silos
- Institutional “see-no-evil”
- Plain, old insensitivity
...In contrast, if I give a student a failing grade, tell a Ph.D. candidate that their dissertation isn’t acceptable, write a referee report judging that a journal ought to reject a submitted paper, or vote against someone’s tenure, the truth is there is little to no recourse....
...The problem of power is reinforced in academia because organization is so “siloed.” When I’m advising a Ph.D. student, basically no one else knows what I’m doing and probably no one else on campus could judge whether the mentor/mentee relationship is reasonable, even if they could observe it....
...“Too often, judicial interpretation of Title IX and Title VII has incentivized institutions to create policies and training on sexual harassment that focus on symbolic compliance with current law and avoiding liability, and not on preventing sexual harassment.”...
...The second issue is whether the campus makes public the extent to which there are consequences of bad behavior. If you want to deter misbehavior, be sure that there are consequences and everyone on campus knows it. If you want victims to come forward, they need to know that complaints result in actions....
...So a little advice to faculty, staff, and teaching assistants who either don’t care how women feel or who—despite all the attention the subject has gotten—still don’t understand how women feel. Don’t make sexual remarks. The fact that women may laugh or go along doesn’t make it okay, because some of them won’t feel they have a choice, and you won’t know that....
The decision to end government surveillance of a very damaging insect, the Emerald Ash Borer, is premature.
Trees are important to the people of the USA. The Emerald Ash Borer has presented itself as a very damaging insect. It's damage became apparent in Michigan in 2003 and the spread of the lousy bug continues to grow into the year 2018.
The map above can be found at this link (click here). The statement the regulation has outlived it's usefulness is bizarre and completely out of touch with current scientific findings. How can the USDA remove regulations of a tree borer that continues to grow in range? It doesn't make sense.
"Ash Borer Information Network" (click here)
What the heck is the USDA thinking? Are they thinking? Or is this someone's bonus to get rid of regulation just for the sake of getting rid of regulation. This BUG does a heck of a lot of damage and the best hope of ending it is an abundance of woodpeckers.
APHIS (click here) is proposing to remove the domestic quarantine regulations for the emerald ash borer (EAB). Eliminating this regulation is in keeping with USDA’s goal of reducing regulations that have outlived their usefulness. The proposal would end APHIS’ domestic regulatory activities, which includes actions such as issuing permits, certificates and compliance agreements, making site visits, and conducting investigations of suspected violations, and instead direct all available resources toward managing the pest. APHIS remains committed to controlling this invasive pest and wants to conduct more research and release a greater number of biological control agents—tiny stingless wasps that are natural predators of the EAB—since biocontrol has shown the most promise for stopping EAB’s spread....
If Trump wanted to put more tariffs on China, he could have started with the exporting of their bugs. There are more lousy bugs and invasive species of ANYTHING LIVING that comes from Asia that anyone can point to as biological warfare.
Originally from Asia, (click here) the emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in the Detroit area in 2002. It is believed to have entered the country on wooden packing materials from China. The bright metallic-green beetle may be smaller than a dime, but it is capable of taking down ash trees thousands of times its size. Adults are typically ½ inch long and ⅛ inch wide. Eggs are extremely small—approximately 1/25 inch—and are reddish-brown in color. Larvae are white, flat-headed borers with distinct segmentation.
Adults usually emerge in mid- to late-May from infestations to the trees during the previous year (earlier if the weather is warm), with females laying their eggs shortly after. The larvae bore into the ash tree and feed under the bark, leaving tracks visible underneath. The feeding disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, resulting in dieback and bark splitting....
Woodpecker feeding: (click here) Woodpeckers eat emerald ash borer larvae that are under the bark. This usually happens higher in the tree where the emerald ash borer prefers to attack first. If there are large numbers of larvae under the bark the woodpecker damage can make it look like strips of bark have been pulled off of the tree. This is called "flecking." An example of this is shown below.This is a Pileated Woodpecker which is a fairly large bird. As you can see it is aggressively eating the ash borer larvae under the bark of the tree. The woodpeckers do damage when they eat from the tree, but, in this case when the woodpeckers find the larvae the tree is already damaged and compromised. Killing the Emerald Ash Borer at the larval stage is the best any arborist can hope for and I believe any woodpecker variety is more of a friend than enemy in getting rid of the lousy bug.
There will be no nuclear disarmament by North Korea.
I believe this is more the case with North Korea. There will be historic disarmament of North Korea of nuclear weapons. Sure the economics will be better than any North Korea has seen in decades, but, it will still keep it's missiles. There has been house keeping by Kim Jong Un with some missile bases and ending testing, but, there still is no verifiable destruction of nuclear weapons.
September 10, 2018
By Alex Ward
By Jung H. Pak
...Third (click here) Kim seeks to maintain the initiative on shaping the global debate about how to approach the North Korea problem. That is, he is looking to shift the discussion to non-nuclear issues to deflect attention away from its nuclear weapons and dampen the international community’s appetite for implementing sanctions. After declaring that he has completed the nuclear weapons program, Kim has pivoted toward engagement and focusing on the economy—key themes in the recent parade held last week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country’s founding. The past nine months of summitry have revived and sustained calls for further engagement, even as Pyongyang continues to reject timelines and verification measures for denuclearization and covertly make additional progress on its strategic programs.
Finally, Kim is probably seeking to reduce his dependence on China by trying to start the process for peace negotiations with the United States. Kim might be calculating that sustained bilateral talks with Washington would increase his leverage against Beijing and stimulate Chinese leaders to be more pliable to Pyongyang’s preferences—such as reducing sanctions implementation—by taking advantage of Chinese concerns about being sidelined in Korean Peninsula issues....
September 10, 2018
By Alex Ward
...“They (click here) kept the nuclear systems out (of the parade) because they don’t need to flaunt them anymore,” tweeted Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert at MIT. In other words, now that North Korea has proved it can most likely hit America with a nuclear weapon, there’s no need to signal to everyone — and Trump especially — that it can do so.
If true, that means North Korea may start to act like India, Pakistan, and Israel: The country may avoid talking about its nuclear capabilities, even though the world knows it has bombs.
So looking at this another way, North Korea just acted like an established nuclear power and received praise from Trump for it. That could lead Kim to think the US will accept North Korea’s arsenal as long as he doesn’t boast about it, which would solidify Pyongyang’s place as a nuclear power — and make Trump the president who gave his seal of approval....
September 17, 2018By Jung H. Pak
...Third (click here) Kim seeks to maintain the initiative on shaping the global debate about how to approach the North Korea problem. That is, he is looking to shift the discussion to non-nuclear issues to deflect attention away from its nuclear weapons and dampen the international community’s appetite for implementing sanctions. After declaring that he has completed the nuclear weapons program, Kim has pivoted toward engagement and focusing on the economy—key themes in the recent parade held last week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country’s founding. The past nine months of summitry have revived and sustained calls for further engagement, even as Pyongyang continues to reject timelines and verification measures for denuclearization and covertly make additional progress on its strategic programs.
Finally, Kim is probably seeking to reduce his dependence on China by trying to start the process for peace negotiations with the United States. Kim might be calculating that sustained bilateral talks with Washington would increase his leverage against Beijing and stimulate Chinese leaders to be more pliable to Pyongyang’s preferences—such as reducing sanctions implementation—by taking advantage of Chinese concerns about being sidelined in Korean Peninsula issues....
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