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Aussie, French warships intercept arms for Houthis
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Page 6: Politix
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
CNN: Chicago hits 700 homicides
It's the first time the city has recorded more than 700 homicides in nearly two decades, according to the Chicago Tribune. Chicago had 704 homicides in 1998, the Tribune reported, and is on a pace to easily break that mark.

Guns are driving the violence, with more than 90% of the 2016 homicides gun-related, said Anthony Guglielmi, head of communications for the Chicago Police Department.

There have been 3,315 shooting incidents this year, police said. Officers have recovered 8,000 guns, a 20% jump over last year, and gun arrests are up 8% over last year.
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/02/2016 09:09 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  90% gun-related? Why don't they get some gun control in Chicago? Take all those tommy guns off the street!

I think I'll go home and watch the original Star Trek A Piece of the Action

Posted by: Bobby || 12/02/2016 9:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Guns are driving the violence

And here I was thinking it might be crime, the off-market pharmaceutical trade, gang-banging or some other sort of tribalism.

Silly me.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/02/2016 12:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Cultural aversion to rubbers and gummint baby mama support policies keep the replacement rate up!
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/02/2016 15:06 Comments || Top||

#4  just think how many it would be without Obama's racial healing!
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 12/02/2016 16:20 Comments || Top||


Congressional panel recommends charges against fetal tissue organizations
[Wash Times] The special committee of Congress looking into the sale of fetal tissue has recommended that prosecutors investigate one Planned Parenthood affiliate and referred a handful of other organizations for criminal or regulatory probes, a panel member revealed Thursday.

Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast violated both Texas and U.S. laws when it sold body parts to the University of Texas, Rep. Mia B. Love, Utah Republican, said on the House floor, detailing the progress of the Select Investigative Panel that is conducting the probe.

The revelations came just hours before the House voted to extend the committee’s work, allocating another $800,000 in a 234-181 vote that broke down almost entirely along party lines.

"Over the last year, we have held hearings that explored the bioethics surrounding fetal tissue use and that revealed the sobering reality of how some bad actors seek to profit from the sale of fetal tissue in violation of federal law," said committee Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican.
Democratic leaders countered that the probe was "built on a pack of lies," and disputed Republicans’ claims that they have found wrongdoing.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/02/2016 06:08 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Busted Spy in German Intelligence Was Gay Porn Actor, Closet Islamist
[PJ] Goya said the sleep of reason produces monsters. The sleep of Christian morality in the post-religious West produces monsters, too:
Perhaps the Germans have learned something from Burgess and Blunt. Unfortunately, no one else appears to have.
Two weeks ago, German intelligence agents noticed an unusual user in a chat room known as a digital hideout for Islamic militants. The man claimed to be one of them -- and said he was a German spy. He was offering to help Islamists infiltrate his agency’s defenses to stage a strike.

Agents lured him into a private chat, and he gave away so many details about the spy agency -- and his own directives within it to thwart Islamists -- that they quickly identified him, arresting the 51-year-old the next day. Only then would the extent of his double life become clear.

The German citizen of Spanish descent confessed to secretly converting to Islam in 2014. From there, his story took a stranger turn. Officials ran a check on the online alias he assumed in radical chat rooms. The married father of four had used it before -- as recently as 2011 -- as his stage name for acting in gay pornographic films.

Authorities on Tuesday said they had arrested him on suspicion of preparing to commit a violent act and for violating state secrecy laws. His arrest was first reported in Germany’s Der Spiegel. But two German officials familiar with the case -- a senior intelligence official and a senior law enforcement official -- revealed new details about his double life in interviews with the Washington Post. They include his role in pornographic films, which could cast a fresh light on the judgment and vetting of the German intelligence agency at a critical time.

Tough to know where to begin with this. The erosion of disqualifying personality traits, which used to include homosexuality in both the armed forces and the clandestine services, not to mention pornographic-film acting, may have advanced the cause of equality but has clearly come at the price of operational security and effectiveness. And in the case of Germany -- which has almost no culturally conservative sector left outside the declining churches -- such lapses can have instant ramifications.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/02/2016 05:51 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So, "on the down-low" and "covert" are not the same thing...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/02/2016 7:08 Comments || Top||

#2  From "disqualifying" to mandatory?
Posted by: james || 12/02/2016 21:48 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Saudi mufti snubs preacher for mocking men whose daughters study medicine
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh on Wednesday has condemned a preacher, who was seen in a video, ridiculing fathers who allow their daughters to study medicine or work in the field since it may permit both genders to mix.

The preacher named Saeed bin Farwa sparked an uproar online after a viral video of him reprimanding fathers who allow their daughters study medicine. Bin Farwa’s condescending tone was heightened when he described these fathers by using a lewd word in Arabic, which could mean that they are "not real men."

During his weekly interview, al-Sheikh, who is Saudi’s top holy man, said bin Farwa’s statement is "dangerous."

"This is a dangerous statement, and it is not acceptable," the grand mufti said. He also said that "our [medical] universities are protected, and men and women are separated."

"Each gender in two different halls," he added.

There are calls now in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
that want to see bin Farwa sacked from his duty as a preacher in a mosque.

Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia

#1  So one backwards-ass nothing snubbed another backwards-ass nothing?
Posted by: Crusader || 12/02/2016 0:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Who do you prefer to do that bi-annual procto exam?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/02/2016 8:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Bin Farwa’s condescending tone was heightened when he described these fathers by using a lewd word in Arabic, which could mean that they are "not real men."

"Nancy boys?"
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/02/2016 11:58 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
‘Bad cops’ beaten up, stripped naked, and shown the street
[Dhaka Tribune] People of a Netrakona village resorted to strong measures when two coppers came around allegedly trying to extort them.

They beat up Assistant Sub-Inspector Imrul Kayes and Constable Mozammel in broad daylight and stripped them naked at Dyarkanda village in Kalmakanda upazila.

Villagers said the coppers had come to the local market on a cycle of violence.

Kayes and Mozammel, who were not in uniform, demanded Tk20,000 from stone trader Al Amin, saying he was accused in a case and threatened to arrest him if he did not comply.

Amin left the spot pretending to bring the sum and informed the villagers about the extortion bid.

Agitated locals surrounded the coppers and at one stage, physically assaulted the duo and stripped them naked. They also vandalised the cycle of violence and snatched a pair of handcuffs from the coppers.

ASI Kayes and Constable Mozammel expeditiously departed at a goodly pace. They could not be reached for comments.

Kalmakanda cop shoppe OC Abu Bakar Siddique said he had heard about the incident. "We will investigate the matter first," he said, declining further comments.

Netrakona’s police chief Joydev Chowdhury said they would take administrative action against the duo if they were found guilty.
Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Need more of this in the US.
Posted by: Iblis || 12/02/2016 10:08 Comments || Top||

#2  Kalmakanda is one tough upazila.
Posted by: Grunter || 12/02/2016 14:47 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Putin curbs anti-Western rhetoric, says wants to get on with Trump
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] President Vladimir Putin
...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead...
struck an unusually conciliatory tone in his annual state of the nation address on Thursday, saying Moscow wanted to get on with the incoming US administration and was looking to make friends not enemies.

His foreign minister Sergei Lavrov too sought a fresh start in relations under Trump and made a parting shot at outgoing president Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
, in an interview with an Italian newspaper.

Putin has used previous set-piece speeches to lash out at the West and the United States in particular, but he reined in his criticism this time round and focused most of his speech on domestic social and economic issues.

"We don’t want confrontation with anyone. We don’t need it. We are not seeking and have never sought enemies. We need friends," Putin told Russia’s political elite gathered in one of the Kremlin’s grandest halls.
Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/02/2016 4:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Since the US Military is guarding Russian oil fields in Iraq and the UFO'S-http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/33258/20161201/ufo-attack-turkey-experiences-shocking-mass-sighting.htm have invaded Turkey we no longer have a 4th Amendment I was wondering when the NSA FBI BND CIA and the Cheka were going to make it all formal and declare victory in the Kingdom and call it South Park? If the clowns keep it up and the Devil and Christ laugh at the same time at the idiots it is game over world peace blue birds the whole 9 yards! Is K_FOR kracking up? Anyways good luck on arresting the Pentagon with brown paper bags and shiny shoes perhaps parachuting into the Russian oil fields in Iraq using paper bags as parachutes insertion and makeup use the brown paper bags like the unknown comic and draw beards on the and be stealthy and arrest the fake US military people helping fight for and guarding the Russian oil interests! I know they trained the dudes with ear buds and trench coats for that mission like Smith from the Matrix and they turn their coats inside out and they look like Arab garb! What I am saying is go Caddy Shack Go Stripes this is not a war it is South Park!
Posted by: Goober Wittlesbach5685 || 12/02/2016 6:46 Comments || Top||

#3  Stream of unconsciousness? Keyboardarrhea? WTF??
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/02/2016 6:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Stream of unconsciousness? Keyboardarrhea? WTF?? Posted by: M. Murcek

Yes to both. We've been trying to work with this fellow, but his condition appears to have deteriorated. Windowless basement dwelling may have claimed yet another victim.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/02/2016 7:06 Comments || Top||

#5  Miss me yet? - Joe

XD
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/02/2016 8:07 Comments || Top||

#6  Joe had credibility.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/02/2016 15:46 Comments || Top||


Europe
Francois Hollande will not seek re-election as president of La Belle France
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] French President Francois Hollande
...the Socialist president of La Belle France, an economic bad joke for la Belle France but seemingly a foreign policy realist...
said on Thursday he would not seek a second term in office in the presidential election in 2017, an unprecedented move that leaves the way open for other left-wing candidates.

It is the first time in decades that an incumbent French president has not sought re-election. Hollande is the most unpopular president on record.

"I am aware today of the risk that going down a route that would not gather sufficient support would entail, so I have decided not to be a candidate in the presidential election," a somber-looking Hollande said in a televised address.

All recent polls have predicted that neither Hollande nor any other Socialist candidate would make it past the first round of the election. They predict a run-off battle between center-right candidate Francois Fillon and the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen.

The Left is deeply divided as it approaches the election. Several other Socialists, including former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, have said they will take part in the party’s primaries in January.

Another of Hollande’s ex-ministers, Emmanuel Macron, and leftist firebrand
...firebrands are noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments...
Jean-Luc Melenchon have said they will run in the presidential election but without taking part in the primaries.

There has been tension between Hollande and his prime minister Manuel Valls, who raised the possibility in a weekend interview that he might run in the primaries against his boss.

Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Lessee - when LBJ did that here, we got Nixon. LePen as the French Nixon? She will have to work on the facial hair and the growl...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/02/2016 7:18 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey Detains Business Executive, Alleging Gulen Link
[AnNahar] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
has detained an executive from a major business conglomerate under a probe into supporters of the Moslem holy man blamed for July's failed coup, state media reported Thursday.

Barbaros Muratoglu, of Dogan Holding, was held in connection with the investigation into followers of preacher Fethullah Gulen
... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world...
State news agency Anadolu said Muratoglu is accused of conducting media activities for a "terrorist organization" (FETO) and being a "FETO member in this way". FETO is how Turkey refers to "Fethullah Terror Organization".

The company responded by issuing a statement that said the claims amounted to "slander" and "distortion."

Muratoglu was held at 6am (0300 GMT) in Ankara and taken to Istanbul, Hurriyet daily, which itself is owned by Dogan Holding, reported.

Turkey accuses Gulen -- currently in self-imposed exile in the United States -- of criminal masterminding the July 15 attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him...
's government. Gulen denies the charges.

Dogan Holding is one of Turkey's biggest conglomerates with interests in retail, energy, tourism and media including Hurriyet and the Posta daily, Dogan news agency and broadcaster CNN Turk.

The Dogan news agency carried a statement from its parent group denying that the company or Muratoglu, its Ankara representative, had links to Gulen or his movement.

"We see that some media organs are finding this an opportunity to falsely claim that there is investigation into the Dogan group," the statement read. "It it clear there is no connection between our group and this illegal structure."

The Dogan group's shares fell after the reports emerged and were down 5.7 percent to 0.66 Turkish lira, at 1430 GMT.

"In its 58 years of business and 40 years in the media sector, the Dogan Group has been against all kinds of terror and terrorist organizations, and together with its state and its people," the statement added.

More than 100,000 people from the civil service, judiciary, military, media and education sector have been detained, dismissed or suspended over alleged links to the coup-plotters.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/02/2016 09:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  Turkey has Guten? Who knew?
Is that why I fall asleep after eating too much Thanksgiving? Oh, that's Glutton.
What, and Gluten is in the dinner rolls?

Well why does Turkey have Gulen...oh, who cares.
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/02/2016 13:57 Comments || Top||


Great White North
Family of beaten Canadian Muslim teen says US election could be reason
Well, golly. I guess we shouldn't have had an election.
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The parents of a 15-year-old Muslim Canadian who was brutally beaten by two men with baseball bats, say they believe the attack might have been a hate crime, local CBC website reported. Noah Rabbani, from Ontario, was attacked by the two men who got out of a car and attacked the teen, beating him badly before taking his backpack, according to local police.

“The males approached the boy and struck him with the bat several times causing serious injuries,” the police’s news release reads. “The suspects ran back to the car and left in an unknown direction.”

His aunt Huma Aslam said her nephew did not have anything of real value in the backpack to steal, only a water bottle and some books.

But the family, which hails from a Pakistani and Muslim background, is concerned that Rabbani may have been beaten due to his skin color.
Ahah. Pakistain.
“It just seems like all of a sudden after the election in the US there have been more violent incidents in our country,” Aslam said. “It’s the timing of it all.”

She added: “Here we are in Canada, the greatest country in the world. I’m just really in shock.”

Doctors are waiting for Rabbani’s swelling to go down so they can operate to remove a blood clot in his brain.
So far, the teen does not have full movement on his right side.

On Nov. 21, CBC published an article reporting on hate crime incidents with a title that read: “Is the ‘Trump effect’ causing a spike in hate crimes in Canada?” Ryan Scrivens, of the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University, told CBC is that it is “too soon to tell.”
"Only time will tell," as they say in the TV news biz.
Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh bullshit.
Posted by: Crusader || 12/02/2016 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  I'm not sure I've see a non-fake attack attributed to Trump fans. So if by Trump effect they mean some kind of hoax (Drug deal gone bad, blame Trump, dad beat you, blame Trump) they are probably right.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 12/02/2016 2:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Poor Muslims, always victims of unprovoked attacks.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/02/2016 4:08 Comments || Top||

#4  How about you face the issues in your own country instead of blaming someone else?

Worthless shitstains
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/02/2016 13:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Poor Muslims, always victims of "unprovoked" retaliations.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 12/02/2016 14:01 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Joe Manchin may be Trump's energy secretary
h/t Instapundit
President-elect Trump is leaning toward coal-country Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin to head the Energy Department, say sources close to the transition team.

The senator from West Virginia would be the second Democrat that Trump is reportedly considering for a Cabinet post. The Trump team formally announced Thursday that Sen. Heidi Heitkamp from oil giant North Dakota, who opposes President Obama's climate rules and supports the development of clean coal, will be visiting with Trump in New York on Friday.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/02/2016 06:19 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Trump's not even in office yet and stocks are up, Fidel Castro is gone, Kanye cancelled his tour and California is talking about leaving the Union.

So far, so good.


Posted by: Besoeker || 12/02/2016 6:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Sen his pal Toomey to BATF - with marching orders to shut it down...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/02/2016 7:13 Comments || Top||

#3  If so, how will he be replaced?
Would Tomblin appoint himself?
Posted by: jvalentour || 12/02/2016 11:20 Comments || Top||

#4  Brilliant move - takes out one of the few non-lib Dems who could credibly run against Trump, and give WV political makeup from the last election, the GOP should be able to find a candidate that would win the replacement election and add to the GOP margin in the Senate.

FYI, Jim Justice, the Gov Elect who takes office Jan 17, was a republican until Feb 2015 when he switched to run as a Dem for Gov. Businessman, only billionaire in WV. Owns coal companies, etc.

If Manchin accepts, then Gov Justice can name himself, but that would effectively make his opponent, Cole, the acting governor.

GOP has a 2x state wide election winning AG Patrick Morrissey who would be a strong candidate to take over that seat in a replacement election.

Posted by: OldSpook || 12/02/2016 22:18 Comments || Top||


Report: 15 Electors Will Refuse to Vote For Trump
[ConservativeRead.com] In a sensational new development, TV host David Pakman says he was told by a high level source that 15 electors in states Trump won will refuse to vote for Donald Trump.
A second hand rumour? Golly.
Pakman went on to say that the electors are also lobbying other members of the electoral college to not vote for Trump.

The goal is to prevent Trump from getting the 270 electoral votes he requires to become president.

If Trump loses 37 electoral votes, it will put him under the 270 benchmark and throw America into a constitutional crisis.
On the first ballot. They can then go to a second ballot, and see what happens after the temper tantrum.
This would be totally unprecedented,
Surely not. We've been a republic for a long time.
and it’s a long shot, but it illustrates the left’s desperation to do anything to sabotage Trump.

Could 15 or more electors really be planning to defy the democratic will of the American people ‐ over 62 million of whom voted for Trump?
Not, however, saying they are going to throw their votes to The Beast. Yet another facet of the attempt to deprive DJT an unqualified victory.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh bullshit.
Posted by: Crusader || 12/02/2016 0:12 Comments || Top||

#2  If no majority is achieved in the electoral college, the President is elected by the House of Representatives.
Posted by: Betty Ghibelline5754 || 12/02/2016 0:26 Comments || Top||

#3  If I were an elector I might tell the folks harassing me that I would not vote for Trump just to get them off my back until the vote. Then I'd vote for Trump as I was honor bound to do.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 12/02/2016 2:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Then I'd vote for Trump as I was honor bound to do.

They are not just honor bound. My understanding is they are legally required to vote as the state did on the first ballot. The law was amended after an elector changed his vote from Nixon to McGovern in 1972.

So all this intrigue is futile.
Posted by: Frozen Al || 12/02/2016 8:00 Comments || Top||

#5  Source Frozen Al (cause that's not what wikipedia says under "Faithless elector")?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/02/2016 8:15 Comments || Top||

#6  A second hand rumor? Golly.

Actually it's worse than that. Some bullshit website named "conservativeread" regurgitates a claim from a a complete joke of a website named "infowars" overheard from an unknown "TV host" about a rumor he was told by an unidentified "high level source" about a story,that even if true, is essentially irrelevant. Then sadly, reposted again here at the 'burg.
C'mon Man!
Posted by: DepotGuy || 12/02/2016 9:12 Comments || Top||

#7  The time for this sort of shenanigans is long past.
Posted by: Iblis || 12/02/2016 11:45 Comments || Top||

#8  My understanding is they are legally required to vote as the state did on the first ballot.

It depends on the state. Half of the states don't bind their electors legally to vote as the popular vote in that state did. Electors from those states can vote contrary to the populous.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/02/2016 14:57 Comments || Top||

#9  To DepotGuy's point, it has all the hallmarks of fake news. Probably just another attempt of many by the Rooshuns to sow discord, confusion, and distrust into our electoral system and national politics.
Posted by: Eltoroverde || 12/02/2016 15:00 Comments || Top||

#10  Actually it's worse than that.

Well traced, DepotGuy. Thank you.

it has all the hallmarks of fake news.

Well said, Eltoroverde.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/02/2016 15:34 Comments || Top||

#11  Meh - I've "Screwed The Pooch" in submissions also and, boy howdy, it sucks to look like a maroon.

Thank goodness the common efforts of this site's citizens can separate wheat from chaff post "Beta" test! ;)
Posted by: Blossom Unains5562 || 12/02/2016 20:11 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Vajiralongkorn proclaimed king of Thailand
[Dhaka Tribune] Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, became Thailand’s new king on Thursday after he accepted an invitation from parliament to succeed his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in October. King Bhumibol, 88, was widely loved and regarded as a pillar of stability during decades of political turbulence and rapid development in the Southeast Asian nation.

Prince Vajiralongkorn, who will be known as King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, according to a statement released by the government’s public relations department, met Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, president of the National Legislative Assembly, at Bangkok’s Dusit Palace.

"I would like to accept the invitation for the benefit of the Thai people," the new king said in a televised statement.

The new king will also be known as Rama X, or the 10th king of Thailand’s Chakri Dynasty.

New era for Thai monarchy

Vajiralongkorn, 64, who inherits one of the world’s richest monarchies as well as a politically troubled nation, will ascend the throne 50 days after King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death. As dusk fell in Bangkok, the prince arrived at the Grand Palace where his father’s body lies in state for religious rites to mark the 50th day since his death.

Vajiralongkorn, who has been named successor for more than four decades, does not yet enjoy the same level of popularity. He spends much of his time outside of the public eye, particularly in southern Germany where he owns property.

He has had three high-profile divorces, while a recent police corruption scandal linked to the family of his previous wife allowed the public a rare glimpse of palace affairs.

Thursday’s ascension will end a period of uncertainty which followed a shock junta announcement after Bhumibol’s death that the prince had asked to delay his official proclamation so he could mourn.

Thailand’s constitutional monarchy has limited formal powers.

But it draws the loyalty of much of the kingdom’s super-rich business elite as well as a military that dominates politics through its regular coups.

It is also protected from criticism by one of the world’s harshest lese majeste laws, carrying up to 15 years in jail for every charge of defaming the king, queen, heir or regent.

That law makes open discussion about the royal family’s role all but impossible inside the kingdom and means all media based inside the country routinely self-censor.

Convictions for so-called "112" offences -- named after its criminal code -- have skyrocketed since generals seized power in 2014.

Experts say most have targeted the junta’s political opponents, many of whom support the toppled civilian government of Yingluck Shinawatra.
Posted by: Fred || 12/02/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The ruler of Thailand, Thailand, the sex trade capital of the world, is named 'Longkorn'?
What ever happened to late night comedy?
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/02/2016 12:03 Comments || Top||

#2  I take it you have not seen the photos of him in the midriff baring crop top? Or him at breakfast with topless wife feeding dog who gave a military rank to? Air Force Vice Marshall no less. He was quite fond of Foo Foo


Posted by: John Frum || 12/02/2016 15:03 Comments || Top||

#3  link here
Posted by: John Frum || 12/02/2016 15:13 Comments || Top||

#4  foo good birthday party
Posted by: John Frum || 12/02/2016 15:26 Comments || Top||

#5  He looks constipated, and gay.
Posted by: Omomort Cheager7040 || 12/02/2016 19:48 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
MA: Hampshire College snowflakes have mixed feelings about restoring US flag
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/02/2016 17:49 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  FTA:

AMHERST -- Hampshire College student Eduardo Samaniego is glad the American flag is once again flying at Hampshire College.

Officials decided to return the flag Friday morning, in part because of threats they said students and faculty have endured since it was removed two weeks ago.

"So many of our students were attacked, were vilified on social media," Samaniego said. He was one of few students who would speak to a reporter on the record because of those fears.

In a statement, Hampshire President Jonathan Lash said the college "was alarmed by the overt hate and threats, especially toward people in marginalized communities, which have escalated in recent weeks."

He said in an interview that he chose to see the flag for now was a symbol "of freedom and justice."
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/02/2016 19:32 Comments || Top||

#2  "threats" = ridicule and defunding
Posted by: Frank G || 12/02/2016 21:56 Comments || Top||



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