Ever since a U.S. military cemetery in the southern Netherlands removed two displays recognizing Black troops who helped to liberate Europe from the Nazis, visitors have filled the guestbook with objections. read more
Russia's defence ministry released video footage on Wednesday of what it said was a downed drone at a briefing intended to show Ukraine tried this week to attack a presidential residence and challenge Kyiv's denials that such an attack took place.
The Red Planet might be a lot more like Mad Max than we'd realized.
In the weeks after a widely shared video circulated online where politicians urged servicemembers to refuse illegal orders, a separate campaign began placing billboards near Florida military communities with a shorter message: "Obey Only Lawful Orders."
President Donald Trump struggled to offer much sympathy for the families of about 100 Americans -- many of them U.S. military veterans -- who have died fighting in Ukraine. read more
So, Pres ~we have no intention of invading Ukraine~ Putin may have been caught in yet another lie?
OpEd: No, Russia will not invade Ukraine (2022)
www.aljazeera.com
... Over the past year, as Russia amassed troops along its border with Ukraine, there have been growing fears of an imminent invasion. A number of Western leaders have repeatedly warned of this possibility.
Moscow has denied that it is making such plans, although it has not withdrawn its troops. Some observers have interpreted these Russian statements as untruthful and even accused the Russian authorities of preparing a false-flag operation.
Over the past year, as Russia amassed troops along its border with Ukraine, there have been growing fears of an imminent invasion. A number of Western leaders have repeatedly warned of this possibility.
Moscow has denied that it is making such plans, although it has not withdrawn its troops. Some observers have interpreted these Russian statements as untruthful and even accused the Russian authorities of preparing a false-flag operation. ...
OK, I have questions ...
Aside from the usual prevarication of anything that is spouted by Moscow ...
If there were ninety-one drones shot down, why is the video provided by Moscow only show one drone? I would have expected to see many more drone debris.
Was that video staged?
Then there is commentary like this ...
Putin residence drone attack dismissed as implausible as Ukraine accusations mount
www.foxnews.com
... Escalating claims by Russia that Ukraine tried to hit a residence used by President Vladimir Putin with drones have been dismissed by a top military drone expert, who called the alleged attack "hard to fathom" and tactically implausible.
Cameron Chell's comments came as Moscow doubled down on accusations Kyiv has flatly denied, with the drone industry leader arguing the alleged strike announced Monday runs counter to Ukraine's drone tactics.
Chell, the CEO and co-founder of Draganfly, a drone manufacturer that supplies to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied militaries, including Ukraine, said Russia's claims lack credibility.
What makes things usually very signature about Ukraine is that they are always incredibly clever about how they use drones," Chell told Fox News Digital.
"They are clever from a cost perspective " let's call it an efficiency perspective " but also very clever in their tactics," he added.
"I find it hard to fathom that this drone attack even happened on Putin's residence or that it was something that Ukraine orchestrated for a number of reasons," Chell said.
"Based on the description of the alleged attack over the top of Putin's residence, the drones would not have been launched from a very long distance away," he said.
"This would have avoided up to 1000 km of air defense systems and then likely attacking one of the most heavily fortified air defense networks surrounding Putin's Valdai residence.
"The cost benefit analysis, not to mention the political analysis, also does not make sense," he added. ...
@#17 ... Shamans in Peru gathered ...
Wht tose Shamen said must be true.
Why else would Pres trump issue a pardon for the QAnon Shaman?
QAnon Shaman' and other Jan. 6 rioters from Arizona celebrate Trump pardons that many denounce as a slap to democracy and police (January 2025)
cronkitenews.azpbs.org
... The "QAnon Shaman" called President Donald Trump's pardons for him and other Jan. 6 rioters "a brilliant political move." ...
@#16 ... With as sickly as he's been looking lately I'm not confident he will be around to find out ...
Saw this ...
Peru shamans foretell illness for Trump, Maduro's exile in 2026
www.reuters.com
... Shamans in Peru gathered for an annual New Year's ritual on Monday where they made predictions for the year to come, including illness for U.S. President Donald Trump and the downfall of Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro.
"The United States should prepare itself because Donald Trump will fall seriously ill," Juan de Dios Garcia proclaimed as he gathered with other shamans on a beach in southern Lima, wearing colorful ponchos and sprinkling flowers on the sand. ...
@#25 ... Time is going by way too fast for me. ...
Yeah. It seems to me that the older I get, the faster time seems to progress. Wish I knew why. But, there it is.
Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game (1970)
www.youtube.com
...
[Verse 1]
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
[Chorus]
And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go 'round and 'round and 'round
In the circle game
[Verse 2]
Then the child moved ten times 'round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like "when you're older" must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
...
They don't write lyrics like that anymore...
Happy New Year to you also.
@#9
Well, that is quite the interesting link.
If I may cite ...
...
Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino
x.com
@CMDROpAtLargeCA
... If you think we're done with Chicago, you'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Don't call it a comeback; we're gonna be here for years. ...
OK, my first question is ...
Is that a real message?
Oh, Cmdr Bovino.
Yeah, he's been in the headlines. And he seems to enjoy that spotlight.
But, seriously, is that how we want our law enforcement officials to act? Striving for social media acclaim, instead of boasting about following the Constitution?
10 things to know about Border Patrol boss Gregory Bovino
www.wbez.org
...
- - - Bovino's great-grandfather was an immigrant from Italy who was in the United States for 15 years when he put in his papers indicating his interest in becoming an American. It was the same month in 1924 that the Border Patrol was established " and the number of Italian arrivals was curtailed.
- - - As the public face of President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign, Bovino has vowed to arrest the "worst of the worst" of immigrants in this country without legal status -- including people who drive under the influence of alcohol. His own father went to prison after killing a 26-year-old woman in a drunk-driving accident in his North Carolina town.
- - - People who knew him growing up remember he was into snakes and knew where to find venomous ones.
- - - His inspiration to become a Border Patrol agent came early. That was when he was 11 and saw the1982 movie "The Border," starring Jack Nicholson. He didn't like that the agents were the bad guys in the movie.
- - - He wasn't a particularly good wrestler at Watauga High School in Boone, N.C. But his teammates voted him "most improved" senior year.
- - - He got a bachelor's degree in natural resource conservation from Western Carolina University and a master's in public administration from Appalachian State University.
- - - In 2020, he became chief of the Border Patrol sector in El Centro, Calif. " one of the agency's nine geographic divisions.
- - - This year, beside Chicago, he has led agents on deportation missions in the country's interior, including Sacramento, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; and New Orleans.
- - - As Trump's man on that mission, Bovino answers directly to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. His title -- a new one -- is commander-at-large.
- - - He's 55 years old -- which puts him two years away from mandatory retirement. No word on what he'll do then.
...
@#233 ... This is a concern of mine ...
A concern of me also.
For example, how many members of Congress may be leaving Congress because of the threats that have been issued against them/
The worst good-paying job in America (November 2025)
www.axios.com
... Death threats and infighting are spurring House Republicans to contemplate whether they want to stay in Congress -- or even leave early. ...
Threats against lawmakers have surged, and after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, members say the atmosphere feels even more volatile.
- - - Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told Axios on Monday the threats have been a factor in members' decision to leave. "It takes a toll on people," he said.
- - - Retiring Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Greene both said the uptick in political violence was part of their decisions to leave Congress.
...
@#5 ... I saw The Clash sing this in '79 ...
Yeah, The Clash is a group I enjoy.
I liked, back in the day, the song "Train In Vain" which was on the vinyl album I bought, but was not listed on the album cover.
Go figure.
Train in Vain
en.wikipedia.org
... "Train in Vain" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released as the third and final single from their third studio album, London Calling (1979).
The song was not originally listed on the album's track listing,[7][8] appearing as a hidden track at the end of the album.
This was because the track was added to the record at the last minute, when the sleeve was already in production. ...
So, her main shtick seems to be along the lines of ~I am not like VP Vance.~
Wow, that seems to be quite damning for VP Vance's political ambitions going forward.