This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman (I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Who would replace them?
There is aerial bombardment of cities. This is ethnic cleansing. He is killing innocent people for no reason .
- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promises "swift and severe consequences to the Kremlin"
- Footage of gunfire, missiles, explosions, shelling, as well as people fleeing Kyiv, posted to Twitter
- President Joe Biden issues statement condemning the Russian attacks on Ukraine and saying the world will hold Russia accountable.
- Ukraine parliament approves state of emergency
- Germany puts the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have transported natural gas from Russia to Europe, on hold
Russian attack helicopters seen flying over the outskirts of Kyiv
I applaud President Biden for being so very correct in all his estimations regarding Russia's intentions for Ukraine.
By Kevin Liptak
Washington - President Joe Biden (click here) on Thursday unveiled harsh new sanctions on Russia meant to punish the country for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression even as he acknowledged it would take time for the new measures to alter Putin's behavior.
Chernobyl nuclear plant could be used in Putin's propaganda to justify invasion.
“Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Thursday. He described the move as “a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”
When the reactor melted down in April 1986 during a test gone awry, a radioactive cloud covered much of the continent. Ukraine was then part of the Soviet Union....
Is Benczkowski still at DOJ? He is a national security compromise.
In late winter 2017, Brian Benczkowski, who now awaits Trump’s signature to become the newest assistant attorney general at the DOJ, briefly represented Alfa Bank, a Russian bank with close ties to Russian government officials that media outlets previously reported was a subject of the FBI’s probe of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.
No one at Alfa has been charged with wrongdoing, and it is unclear if the bank is still part of any probe.
Leading Democrats in the chamber wrote a letter to the president last week arguing Benczkowski cannot “credibly oversee” the DOJ Criminal Division’s involvement in Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation and the criminal investigation of Michael Cohen, the president’s former personal lawyer....
The United Nations has never been more important.
The global community can now see what Russia is all about, expansionism and an alternate reality to facilitate the loyalty of it's military. The United Nations needs to resolve to end such tensions, especially among countries with powerful and dangerous and deadly military capacity.
February 24, 2022By Courtney Subramanian,Michael Collins and Rebecca Morin
Here's what to know about Russia's attack on Ukraine:...
The world as witnessed with the spread of COVID-19 and it's variants is a smaller and smaller place with more and more people living on planet Earth. We cannot afford wars such as Putin carries out because of his politics. Make no mistake this war into Ukraine is due to Putin's politics and promises. His made up reality has to be satisfied to allow the people of Russia to contiue to believe they are oppressed by the entire world outside of Russia and a highly valued president that can carry out enormous movements of troops and killing machines. As far as Putin is concerned he is the only one capable of this aggression and returning the Soviet Union to it's former granduer as well as expansionism.
The family probably can't talk about Bob Saget because there are lawyers involved.
Just a word about Bob Saget. I am not a forensic person on the case, but, their assessment sounds reasonable. He fell in the shower and struggled to the bed and died there. It is very unfortunate.
These types of accidents happen. Shower floors and bathrooms can be a dangerous place if people are not careful. The STONE of bathrooms, be it porcelin or otherwise, always seemed to me a contradictory combination. There needs to be a synthetic answer to bathrooms that are more forgiving when people slip and fall.
This could be an accident of a slip in the shower or tub, but, he was 65 years old and while a very vital 65 year old he could have had a heart incident that also dropped him to the floor. He doesn't have to have a heart condition to have such an incident. The older adult sometimes will drop their blood pressure under warm water used to bath. The forensic experts could speak more to that, but, I think their assessment is correct in that it was an accident.
I am sorry to hear violence against Ukraine has begun.
I think the world is with Ukraine, at least the civilized world. (click here) Putin in justifying his violence against Ukraine as ending the Nazis' war. This is typical ethnic hatred to divide people and demonize an enemy scapegoat.
President Biden is correct, this violence by Russia is completely unprovoked. Shelling can be heard in Kyiv. Sirens to awaken the people in the capital went off to bring awareness to the danger that may approach as time goes on. Ukrainians have a right to decide to leave and seek refuge.
It is so hard to realize this is 2022 and Russia is still acting as if it is 1968.
On August 20, 1968, (click here) the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia to crack down on reformist trends in Prague. Although the Soviet Union's action successfully halted the pace of reform in Czechoslovakia, it had unintended consequences for the unity of the communist bloc.
When will the Cold War finally end with anti-democracy narratives in communist countries? It is so ridiculous. NO ONE IS COVETING VIOLENCE AGAINST COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, ONLY COMMUNISTS COVETING VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PEOPLE THAT EMBRACE DEMOCRACY. More than fifty years has passed and not a thing has changed.
Ukraine is on the minds and in the hearts of people all over the world tonight.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
A few Sunday evenings ago I posted entries about the exploitation of women for money by con artists.
There was also concerned for the children or the image of the children involved with this fraud in that it could be pedophilias that are carrying out this form of financial support for themselves. I have some additional comments.
I am somewhat convinced using the image of eight or nine year old girls is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for these free lancers. These are men (haven't heard of any women yet) that use tactics against women to romance them and weaken their resolve to protect their finances. I still firmly believe this results in Stockholm Syndrome.
One of the methods at the very beginning is to ask what dress size she is so he can purchase the perfect dress for their meeting sometime in the future. That dress can be purchased from recycle outlets like Poshmark and mailed to the woman as an expression of love and devotion and promise.
But, other than the "girl image" there are issues of naked compromise in harassing the victims. In other words at one point and it doesn't matter the weight or figure of the woman, they are asked for naked pictures to keep their man interested. These pictures can lead to intimidation to continue the pressure to reliquish monies through any means of which the woman can obtain them.
Naked women.
I think it is time for a cultural shift in the USA from highly conservative ideology of women's bodies to one of fitness. I think every woman at some point, especially business women, should invest in photos of themselves naked or partically naked as in a small square inch bathing suit. Those pictures should be kept as a reminder of the strange power such images could have over the future of a woman's life.
If I can recall the actress Jennifer Lawrence and her fight to protect images she shared with the man she loved. The images were of her fashioably disrobed and they were digital. Her protected site was hacked and the pictures exposed to the world. Every woman needs to follow her example in maintaining their body image as their own, but, never are they ashamed of that image.
I have noticed with many singers - actresses their clothing choices are very sexy and seductive at times. It is that level of pride in one's body that should be owned by every woman alive today. At no point in time should revealing pictures of a woman lead to her embarassment or demise in her profession. The power of revealing naked or compromised pictures has to end. The USA has passed laws called "Revenge Laws" (click here) by which men that reveal women without their expressed permission are considered to be criminals in their intent and purpose.
I also have more information about the methods these men are using. Oddly enough ambassadors and their staff are already cued to these episodes existing online and are absolutely correct in stating "Stop the contact." These men are connected voluntarily to an "organization." I haven't be able to ascertain the complete identity of the organization, but, it is organized crime with methods developed to induce women to give up money at any cost to them.
I am told the organization is very dangerous and people need to avoid this level of interaction. The practioners of this organization are free lancers allowed to raise money for their own purposes. There are no noble causes.
I will write more about another method and it is highly sophisticated. It is easy to see this is organized crime.
Until later.
I don't know a great deal about hockey, but, is that goalie uniform regulation?
By Ivan Fedotov and Mikhail Grigorenko
The Russian goaltender (click here) held his medal in his hand instead of putting it around his neck after the ROC's 2-1 loss to Finland in the men's ice hockey final on Sunday.
Due to Covid-19 protocols at the Beijing Games, athletes are tasked with picking up their medals from a platter rather than having them placed around their necks.
When Fedotov received his medal he simply couldn't bring himself to put it around his neck.
By the end of the ceremony he was the only player from both sides not wearing a medal.
“It's hard to accept that it isn't gold,” Fedotov said afterwards.
“I'm an all-or-nothing person, and it's hard to accept a defeat.
"I'll definitely put it on and enjoy that but later on.”...
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Let me just say this. The issues the Biden Administration has faced since taking office after an incompetent populous president is daughting. I firmly believe President Biden is the right president for this time in American history.
Media find him easy to pick on, because, he is less a politican and more a president. He is very different from previous presidents. I find his frank method of speaking refreshing. He and Secretary Blinken are not mincing words. I think they are great and brave, but, most of all sincerely concerned for our allies across the pond. That is not readily seen in past administrations.
To be a fly on the wall.
By the AP
February 21, 2022
Vice President Kamala Harris (click here) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday.
Munich - Acknowledging "the real possibility of war," (click here) Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up a weekend of outreach to European allies with a push to bolster the West's resolve in confronting Moscow with crippling sanctions as increasingly dire signs suggest Russia's Vladimir Putin plans to order an invasion of Ukraine.
In a burst of diplomacy at the annual Munich Security Conference, Harris tried to make the case to American allies rapidly escalating tensions on the Ukraine-Russian border meant European security was under "direct threat" and there should be unified support for economic penalties if the Kremlin invades its neighbor....
Of course, only Putin alone could do it.
Former President Donald Trump (click here) praised Vladimir Putin in a podcast interview on Tuesday, describing the Russian president's justification for invading Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius."
In an appearance on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," Trump said Putin's recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk — two-thirds of which are controlled by Ukraine and are not recognized by most other nations but backed by Russia — was a smart move.
By Carrie Johnson
Attorney General Merrick Garland (click here) said the Justice Department is aware that classified material has been found on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property but didn't explicitly confirm a federal probe on the matter is underway.
"[T]he National Archives has informed the Justice Department of this and communicated with it," Garland said at a news conference Tuesday. "And we will do what we always do under these circumstances: look at the facts and the law and take it from there."
Archivist David Ferriero notified members of Congress Friday that some of the contents in 15 boxes of presidential records at the Florida resort were "marked as classified national security information." Ferriero said the National Archives had asked Trump's representatives to continue searching for more materials....
The Emporer of Russia has made two decrees without any input from Ukraine or a Minske agreement that is binding.
The Kirov district court said on February 22 that it found three men, whose identities were not disclosed, guilty of taking part in mass disorders and sentenced them to four years in prison each.
More sentences are expected to be announced against other people involved in the protests against measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus in North Ossetia.
On April 20, 2020, police in North Ossetia detained dozens of protesters when about 2,000 people gathered in the central square of the regional capital, Vladikavkaz, demanding the resignation of regional leader Vyacheslav Bitarov.
The rally was violently dispersed by police.
The protest was initiated online via social networks by North Ossetian opera singer Vadim Cheldiyev, who permanently resides in St. Petersburg....
Monday, February 21, 2022
When do the threats end? When will peace find permanent footing? When will human rights abuses end?
It is such a magnificent reflection of a man that survived World War II as a soldier and found peace living in the USA.
This is the year 2022. World War II ended in 1945. The peace it was supposed to bring somehow got lost in power struggles where people suffer and lose their lives.
How many more generations of human beings will have to endure the pain and suffering of others divided in a world where human life is not upheld as the pinnacle of each and every government on Earth? When will the power clashes stop and the world finally find an enduring peace where problems are confronted and competency in leadership is secure election after election?
I was born to a Korean War Veteran. Four years of his life was spent on the Korean peninsula. He expected all his life to have the end of that conflict result in peace on the Korean peninsula. When Americans go to war it is supposed to have a purpose to bring about the end of war, not continue it indefinitely.
The USA is not the great evil although as a scientist involved in climate, I expect far more of my government than it delivers all because one political party is somehow umbilicaled to the petroleum industry. Not even the car industry which is moving on to produce electric cars, but a petroleum industry that never receives a wake up call to the damage it does to my planet. Yes, my planet. I am going to start listing Earth on my return address on every envelope I send. Below the city and state and zip code I am going to put USA, Earth. It is where I live.
But, war always seems so easy to get into and peace so difficult to permanently commit to and turn to economic stability and growth. The war economy is a human rights abuse, especially when it has no end.
Russia is wrong in all it is doing. Russia's Putin wants the propaganda to win the day and maintain his ideology as the only ruling understanding of the people. There are many populations of people in Russia that do not adher to the propaganda and fight for the freedom of fair elections to bring about competent leadership that no longer embraces Russia's nuclear capacity and seeks peace with all countries.
Eugene Polinsky is an example of the direction any war should seek to take. An end to violence and a turn to economic growth and prosperity. He is a hero. He lived a magnificent life after surviving one of the most deadly wars in Earth history. It is time for the memory of Eugene Polinsky to be honored along with all the men and women that died during WWII to bring a lasting peace to Earth and an end to war and killing. They expect that. That is not an unreasonable expectation. Soldiers expect that their sacrifice means something. Their loyalty to the fight is based in a clear understanding there is something worth fighting for to bring peace.
Ukraine deserves peace as a country seeking to be neutral in all it's dealings to promote a strong economy for the well being of it's people. It is time to end this hideous idea of war.
Mr. Polinsky was celebrated at Rutgers' University in New Jersey, USA, Earth (click here).
Peacekeeping missions are deployed by the United Nations, not Russia unilaterally.
February 21, 2022
By Andrew Osbor and Dmitry Antonov
Do different than the issues with China and Taiwan
By Sam Goodwin
The Premier of Taiwan (click here) has called for an investigation into the circumstance surrounding a Taiwanese speedskater wearing what appeared to be a Chinese uniform at the Winter Olympics.
Huang Yu-ting, one of four Taiwanese athletes at the Winter Games in Beijing, posted a video on her social media page on January 23 showing her training.
However she appeared to be wearing a Chinese team suit in the video, copping a raft of backlash from Taiwanese fans on social media.
Huang has since apologised and removed the video, saying she received "too many unnecessary comments as well as messages sent to her privately.”
“Sport is sport. There is no nationality in the world of sports," she wrote.
"Every athlete is a friend when we are not competing against each other....
Chronic war and human rights abuse.
There is no MInske Agreement Putin is willing to subscribe to. He has done this before in Georgia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) on Monday formally recognized the independence of two Moscow-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine where Russia has been supporting armed separatists in an eight-year conflict.
The move by Putin was seen by the United States and its European allies as a dramatic provocation and possibly part of a pretext to invade Ukraine. The U.S. and European Union both swiftly announced sanctions.
Many experts believe that Moscow's formal recognition will effectively scuttle a previous ceasefire agreement that some Western allies hoped could provide a route out of the crisis.
In a wide-ranging televised speech Monday evening, Putin described Ukraine as a historical part of Russia that was illegitimately taken from Moscow and is now run by a “puppet regime” controlled by the U.S. and the West.
"Ukraine is not just a neighboring country, they are a part of our culture," he said....